The GAB awards, founded by Femi Okutubo, is an award ceremony that promotes and showcases those within the African Diaspora for their outstanding contribution to the promotion of Africa and African people around the world. The Future Gem award is given to those aged 35 or under who are considered rising stars.
Toyosi is a member of Loughborough’s Model United Nations Society, which examines and debates global politics in the same format used in the United Nations. In his first year at Loughborough, Toyosi participated in a Change the World Model United Nations conference held in New York, representing Brazil on the issue of food insecurity in conflicting countries. Then in his second year, Toyosi won the Honourable Mention award at the Nottingham Model UN conference where he represented the Saami Council on the topic of oil, gas, and mineral extractions and its impact on Arctic indigenous people.
On his biggest achievements at Loughborough, Toyosi discussed his placement year as a policy intern for Harris County’s Research and Analysis Division in Houston Texas: “Being one of the first international undergraduate students to be accepted on the Texas Legislative Internship Programme was such an honour. It was an amazing experience helping to create different government policies ranging from civilian oversight of law enforcement to increasing voting access, data sharing policies, making friends, and engaging with industry leaders, community organisations and elected officials.”
He also completed a Research and Policy internship at the International Organisation for Peace Building and Social Justice (PSJ UK), a non-profit organisation that seeks peace and social justice in Nigeria. During the internship, he conducted an online policy forum concerning Nigeria’s civil policing to researchers, professionals and students. He also published two articles concerning the Tigray Peace Deal and the UN’s role in ensuring that security, and what the newly elected Labour government means for peace in Nigeria. Toyosi has also completed work placements with three MPs, Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP, Taiwo Owatemi MP, and now Foreign Secretary David Lammy MP.
On receiving a GAB award, Toyosi commented: “It feels amazing but not real at the same time, I’ve never won a prestigious award before, but it is truly an honour to be considered a future gem and it motivates me to keep doing the very best, not just for myself but to help others.
“If you have a vision, exhaust your options and do what you can until you get it. There were so many obstacles I had to overcome but with prayer, patience and discipline I was able to achieve it. I had a visa issue that almost cost me my internship in America; I did not get my first internship until about a week and a half before university started and I’m usually quite introverted, so I do not put myself out there for opportunities.
“It all starts with you persevering and using the resources (work experience, micro internships, family and friends, societies, mentors) around you. I am always available to advise or talk to anyone who wants to be the very best version of themselves in university!”