Created: 2026.01.22. 09:53
The World Association of African Researchers, Engineers, Entrepreneurs, and Scientists once again recognised African researchers, students, and professionals active in Europe recently, who have achieved excellence in the fields of natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. The award for Best Undergraduate Student was won by Chuma Chiamaka Juliet, a second-year Nigerian student of International Relations at Széchenyi István University.
The World Association of African Researchers, Engineers, Entrepreneurs, and Scientists (WARESA) is an international society whose goals include supporting the next generation of African professionals and those of African descent. The association announced the „Europe Awards 2025” competition to recognise outstanding talents living in Europe, with the aim of honouring African researchers, students, and entrepreneurs studying and working on the continent. The category for Best Undergraduate Student was won by Széchenyi István University student Chuma Chiamaka Juliet.
The young woman from Nigeria has been studying for two years now at the institution’s Apáczai Csere János Faculty of Pedagogy, Humanities, and Social Sciences, majoring in International Studies with the support of the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship. „I come from a quiet small town, which is why I immediately took a liking to Győr when I was looking for a University. I wanted to study Law or International Relations; eventually, I chose the latter and have not regretted it at all. I have excellent teachers who are supportive and approach every member of the intercultural community with sensitivity, and among my classmates, I have met young people from Hungary, Japan, Laos, Bangladesh, and Sudan,” she detailed. She added: it is a valuable experience for her to study international relations from the perspective of another country, as she can gain insight into completely different perspectives this way.
Chuma Chiamaka Juliet highlighted that the award is a highly-meaningful recognition for her, which simultaneously boosted her self-confidence and inspired her to strengthen her professional career path. „I would like to undertake Scientific Students’ Association (TDK) work this semester. My research will focus on the south-eastern region of Nigeria, scrutinising the history of the Igbo people, who have historically been excluded from holding the presidency. As this is an ongoing issue, I found it a particularly interesting topic both for my studies and my roots,” she revealed. The young girl would also gladly complete her master’s degree at Széchenyi University in the future.
The head of the Department of International Studies and Communication, Vice-Dean Dr Júlia Szőke, said: their department places particularly great emphasis on the Global South, especially Africa, and the academic and professional progress of students arriving from there. „It is a source of great pride for us that, out of all African university students studying in Europe, our student won the award,” she emphasised. „This recognition also proves the international standard and competitiveness of the education, as well as validating the effectiveness of our work”.
