A media pioneer, literary figure, and women’s rights activist.

This National Women's Day UNSMIL honors the memory of an extraordinary woman who continues to inspire many young women to this day: Khadija Mohammed Abdallah-Aljahmi.

Born in Benghazi in 1921, Khadija Mohammed Abdallah Aljahmi was the second woman to have her voice was broadcast over Libyan airwaves and the first ever to read the news bulletin in 1965.

Her extensive radio work included radio plays and hosting programs addressing previously unspoken societal issues, such as the expansion of education for girls, women in the workforce, and the societal shift from rural to urban life. "Pictures from the Past," "Ask Your Doctor," "Children’s Corner," and "Lights on Society" are a few of the shows she hosted.

Her career and work seamlessly spanned various fields, including radio, writing, and poetry. She founded Libya’s first women’s magazine, Al’Mar’a, in 1965, and a children’s magazine called Al Amal in 1974. Under the pen name Bint Alwatan (Daughter of the nation), she wrote poetry and lyrics that were then sung by renowned Libyan artists.

Driven by her own quest for formal education and commitment to women’s rights, Aljahmi became a central figure in the Libyan Women's Union, eventually leading it in 1973. She is also credited with nurturing numerous Libyan cultural, media, and literary figures by fostering their writing talents from a young age through her publications.

Aljahmi, whose resonant voice was a product of extraordinary circumstances, believed in the empowerment of Libyan women through education and work and was able to reach and captivate an audience for years.

Recognizing the challenges she herself had faced, Khadija Aljahmi dedicated her life to empowering other women, contributing to social progress in her country, and paving the way for future generations to overcome similar obstacles.