Ambassador Wurie, who collected his award at one of the University’s summer graduations, has served three different Sierra Leonean governments, a rare feat in African politics and an indication of the respect in which he is held in his home country.

The Ambassador is active in humanitarian affairs, serving as Deputy Humanitarian Coordinator for the United Nations in Iraq, and as Executive Board member of the World Food Programme in central America.

It’s his international humanitarian work, including helping refugees from war-torn Liberia and supporting the fight against Ebola, which earned him recognition from the University with the award of Honorary Doctor of Business Administration.

Ambassador Wurie studied at the University in the late 1990s, graduating with a Masters of Arts in International Relations in 2001. During his acceptance speech, he commended the education he received at Bedfordshire.

“I’m proud and humbled to receive this honorary degree from the University,” he said. “This degree is the icing on the cake of my already distinguished career.

“I believe the achievements of mine are a result of the knowledge gained at this university, which has enabled me to serve my country diligently.”

His honorary award – for his ‘outstanding contribution to diplomacy and international relations’ – was the penultimate one announced during the past fortnight of graduations. Fellow honoraries were Chief Executive of the Disability Resource Centre Michael Dillon, PR guru Caroline Kinsey and Pastor Lloyd Denny.

Thousands of students from across all the University’s faculties picked up their degrees across 16 ceremonies at Bedford and Luton.

Ambassador Wurie attended a ceremony celebrating the achievements of Creative Arts, Technologies and Science students, instructing them to go forth into their careers and praising the University’s ethos of transforming lives and its investment in facilities.

“All of these developments are a huge investment by the University to develop men and women from all over the world,” he said. “This university doesn’t just focus on education; it also considers the human aspect of development.

“Be good with the ambassadors of this university and go with my sincere best wishes into your careers and the rest of your lives.”

The Ambassador has served as Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner to Nigeria and as its Ambassador to a number of countries, including India, Germany and Saudi Arabia. Ambassador Wurie has held a number of diverse posts in Sierra Leone, including the country’s Ambassador at Large and a special envoy of the President. He now plans to run for the Sierra Leonean Presidency in the 2018 elections.

For his dedicated and outstanding service to his nation – including developments in education, power sectors and roads – the Ambassador was awarded the Commander of the Order of the Republic of Sierra Leone. Internationally, he was made a Grand Commander of the order of Malta and a Knight of the Republic of Italy.