Former President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has urged Namibians to support President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.

The president, she says, can only move the country forward if every Namibian plays their part. 

Sirleaf, joined by ICT Minister Emma Theofelus, sat down with the nbc team to unpack her journey as a president then and the one ahead for Nandi-Ndaitwah.

While reminiscing on the moment she was elected as the first female president on the continent, Sirleaf expressed how overjoyed she was to witness yet another historic moment when President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah was sworn in as president. 

She says Nandi-Ndaitwah, who started her political journey at the age of 14 and dedicated her life to serving the country, has earned her the position.

According to Sirleaf, there will always be differences in leadership, but at the end of the day, the responsibility should be on everyone to make sure that the nation succeeds in its set development goals.

"She can only then take the nation where you want it to be if you, Namibians are a part of it and you are willing to serve in such a way by keeping with your abilities to help her achieve that. That is the ultimate success of a person who has spent forty-plus years of their lives trying to make sure that their lives are better. Please be with her; give her the opportunity to serve."

Sirleaf further said that while the continent still has a long way to go with gender equality, the small progress witnessed with women taking up leadership positions is commendable.

"It is still a long journey, but we are still happy with where we are. We can stand on the mountaintop and say it is happening; it's slow, and we don't have the numbers and the gender equity that we all can be proud of, but indeed it is happening."

The former president urged young people to be responsible as they prepare to take up leadership positions. 

"My message to all young people is that it's your time, and we, the older ones, are ready to concede the leadership to you, but you have got to be responsible enough to take it on a course that will lead it to success. Success that will recognise that everyone in the society has the right to be respected and participate in decisions that will affect their lives."

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018.