Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Orange Foundation Sierra Leone has awarded three winning schools E2,500 each for their outstanding performance in the Wiki Challenge for African Schools. The awards ceremony took place at the ODC Event Center, Hill Station, on 14 August 2025.
The Wiki Challenge for African Schools is a multi-national writing competition that encourages students aged 8–15 to contribute articles to Vikidia, the children’s version of Wikipedia. Participating schools compete by writing articles on topics of local importance, promoting both learning and creativity.
Finnah Mariama Steven, Head of Coding at Orange Foundation, said this is the second edition of the competition. She noted that last year, Sierra Leone became the first English-speaking country to participate at the international level, winning recognition. “This year, seven schools participated,” she said, adding that all schools must first receive the Orange digital school kits to join the challenge.
Dele Preparatory School, 2024 international winner, expressed gratitude for the initiative. Philicia J. Samu said, “Winning this competition has motivated us to do more. The prize money will be used to purchase a school bus.”
Sekou Amadou Bah, CEO of Orange Sierra Leone, praised the students’ creativity and highlighted the broader impact of the Foundation’s initiatives. “Over the past years, Orange Foundation has donated 39 digital school kits, benefiting more than 39,000 pupils across the country,” he said. He also noted that the program allows children to share stories about their culture, history, and local communities through digital platforms.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Basic and Senior Secondary Education, Conrade Sackey, congratulated the winning schools. “Your hard work, dedication, and passion for learning have brought you here,” he said. “Each essay reflects not just individual talent but also the collective hope and potential of our future leaders. The future is bright, and it is in your hands.” He commended Orange Sierra Leone for setting a high standard in corporate citizenship.
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of certificates to the pupils, the issuing of cheques to the winners, and group photographs.
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