SIERRA LEONE’S JEREMIAH THORONKA WINS GLOBAL STUDENT AWARD, 2021

Home / Uncategorized / SIERRA LEONE’S JEREMIAH THORONKA WINS GLOBAL STUDENT AWARD, 2021
SIERRA LEONE’S JEREMIAH THORONKA WINS GLOBAL STUDENT AWARD, 2021

In an appropriately organised ceremony held in the Sierra Leone High Commission in London, on Thursday 11/11/2021, Sierra Leonean student Jeremiah Thoronka received the Global Student Award for academic excellence and innovation.

This year’s award winner was announced on Wednesday 10/11/2021 at a separate event held during the UNESCO General Conference in Paris.

Candidates for the Global Student Award which carries a cash prize of 100,000 US dollars were chosen through a rigorous selection process based on a tough set of criteria used to identify “an exceptional student” out of a global community of impactful students “working to make life better for their peers, for their communities and for the world beyond”.

After completing his undergraduate studies in Kigali, Rwanda, Jeremiah is currently studying for a Masters of science degree in Sustainability, Energy and Development at the Durham University in the UK as a Commonwealth Scholar. The young man who is in his early twenties was selected as this year’s winner out of a brilliant lineup of 3,500 contestants from 94 countries who either applied for or were nominated for the prize.

The Varkey Foundation which promotes quality education around the world through its chegg.org affiliate also runs a $1m dollar annual Global Teacher Prize to appreciate the work of excellent teachers. Jeremiah is the first winner of the Global Student Prize established to identify and appreciate impactful students from around the world.

Jeremiah Thoronka is no stranger to recognition as his genius has brought him many accolades over the past few years, including the Best student at Saint Edward’s Secondary School for seven years; a Sierra Leone Academic Excellence Award 2009, the African Leadership Academic Excellence Award; the African Leadership Innovative Thinker/Entrepreneur 2020, and the Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work – Africa 2021.

During the short but impressive ceremony, HE Dr. Morie Manyeh, Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, paid glowing tribute to the deserving prize winner, emphasising the point that the Jeremiah success story “is not just a proud national story but a powerful global story”.
Adding: “this inspiring achievement is made all the more laudable because it is directly related to the search for solutions that could address the greatest concern of our times- the adversely changing environment.”
The High Commissioner also pointed out that the positive energy pulsating from His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio’s vision for education is going to continue to inspire the nation and Dr. Manyeh used the occasion to call on other Sierra Leoneans to embrace the opportunity created by the Free Quality Education “to make a positive difference in their own lives and in the lives of others”.
The Deputy High Commissioner, Mrs. Yvonne King-Odigboh, described Jeremiah as “a national inspiration” and encouraged the young man to “go out there and continue to make us proud”.

In his brief response, Jeremiah credited his success to “the struggles and perseverance of all those who believe in possibilities” and said he was happy but humbled.

The Varkey Foundation was represented by Mr. Nicholas Piachaud, Head of Advocacy and Analysis and Mr. Jay Varkey, Board Member.