Neo Jane Masisi[1] also known as Mma Atsile is the First Lady of Botswana, the wife of President Mokgweetsi Masisi.[2]
Neo Masisi | |
|---|---|
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| First Lady of Botswana | |
Current | |
| Assumed role 1 April 2018 | |
| President | Mokgweetsi Masisi |
| Preceded by | Barbara Mogae (2008) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Neo Jane Masisi 1971 or 1972 (age 51–52) |
| Spouse | Mokgweetsi Masisi |
| Children | 1 |
| Profession | Accountant |
Personal life edit
Neo Jane Masisi was born in 1971 or 1972 in Francistown, the eldest of six children of Baruki and Irene Maswabi. Both her parents were university graduates. She grew up and attended school in Gaborone, where her parents were working.[3][4]
She married Mokgweetsi Masisi in 2002; they have a daughter named Atsile.[3]
Career edit
Masisi is an accountant. She trained at the Accountancy Training Centre of the Debswana Diamond Company where she obtained membership of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. From 2001 to 2004 she continued her studies at De Montfort University in England, where she obtained an MBA degree.[3][2] First Lady Neo Masisi was in 2019 conferred Fellow Chartered Management Accountant by CIMA President Mr Steven Swientozielskyj in Gaborone.[5] In 2004 she joined the United Nations, initially working at the UN Headquarters in New York City and then at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa.[6] She has also worked for the UN in the Central African Republic.[3]
In 2017 Masisi moved back to New York to work on Umoja, an enterprise resource planning software system to be used by United Nations entities worldwide.[7]
She left the UN in 2018 when her husband became President of Botswana.[3]
Her role as First Lady is largely ceremonial. As First Lady, Masisi has focused on issues that affect children and adolescents, and on women's empowerment. In 2018 she launched Eseng Mo Ngwaneng, a UNICEF campaign against sexual exploitation and abuse.[7][8]
References edit
- ^ Mandhry, Eddie (11 June 2019). "President Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana visits Yale". Yale News. Yale University. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ a b "President Masisi clarifies First Lady's role". Your Botswana. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Staff corner - Profile" (PDF). UN Staff Voice. No. 6. June 2018. pp. 36–39. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ "Puisanyo le Mma Atsile". Botswana Daily News (in Tswana). 3 April 2018. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ "Daily News .:. : : Masisi credits CIMA for success". www.dailynews.gov.bw. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
- ^ "H.E. Mrs Neo Jane Masisi". www.africanchild.report. Retrieved 2021-05-17.
- ^ a b Kgosikebatho, Keitebe (7 January 2019). "Neo Masisi inspires Women". The Patriot on Sunday. Gaborone. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
- ^ Mokgosi, Tshenolo (4 December 2018). "First Lady Masisi launches campaign against sexual abuse". Weekend Post. Gaborone. Retrieved 9 August 2019.