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The Ministry of Technical and Higher Education (MTHE) has joined the United Nations (UN) to conclude the preliminary phase of the national school quiz and university debate competition in Freetown.
The initiative forms part of activities commemorating the UN’s 80th anniversary, which will be officially marked on 24th October 2025. The event follows an earlier district-level round held in Bo.
During the announcement of results, it was revealed that five secondary schools (Modern High School, Milton Margai School for the Blind, Sierra Leone Grammar School, Annie Walsh Memorial School, and Albert Academy) advanced to the semi-final stage of the quiz competition, scheduled for 23rd October 2025.
In the university debate category, Milton Margai Technical University, Limkokwing University, and Freetown Polytechnic qualified for the next stage of the competition.
Delivering the keynote address, Idrissa Sannoh, Acting Director of Research, Planning, and Development at MTHE, expressed delight over the ministry’s partnership with the UN and commended the young participants for their enthusiasm and commitment. He described the competition as more than an academic exercise, emphasizing that it embodies the ideals of the United Nations, promoting dialogue over conflict, learning over ignorance, and cooperation over division.
Sannoh underscored the UN’s enduring partnership with Sierra Leone, recalling its crucial role in post-war peacebuilding, its support during the Ebola and COVID-19 crises, and its continued assistance toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He further noted that the UN’s 80th anniversary celebration was not only a reflection on past achievements but also a recognition of the youth who will shape the next 80 years of global progress and unity.
He encouraged young people to promote peace and tolerance, champion education and innovation as drivers of national development, advocate for gender equality and human rights, and protect the environment for future generations. According to him, embracing these values would ensure that the legacy passed on remains one of hope, progress, and sustainability.
Reflecting on the earlier phase of the competition held in Bo, Sannoh praised the high level of engagement and expressed optimism that the same spirit of enthusiasm and collaboration would continue in Freetown. He reminded participants that the event was not just about winning or losing, but about collective learning, cooperation, and contributing to nation-building.
