In March, the Commonwealth Youth Programme celebrated the achievements of young people while building their capacity to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of society.
Over 40 youth leaders were gathered for a two-week Commonwealth Youth Leadership Summit (CYLS) to address critical youth development issues and received training and resources to develop collaborative youth-led initiatives.
Participants included representatives from Commonwealth youth networks, regional and national youth councils, and partner organisations, as well as some of the finalists from the Commonwealth Youth Awards.
In addition to the capacity building, friendships were forged, alliances cemented and collaboration on projects began during their time at the summit.
The youth leaders also participated in this year’s Commonwealth Day celebrations, including a culture-rich Commonwealth Youth Awards ceremony at Marlborough House, the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
Speaking to the young people, the former Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, said:
“The challenges you face — climate change, inequality, economic disruption — are not of your making, yet you are leading the charge in finding solutions. Your energy, your creativity, and your courage are already shaping policies, challenging injustices, and driving innovation across our 56 member nations.
“Whether through the Commonwealth Youth Council, the Commonwealth Students Association, or the remarkable work of young entrepreneurs and activists, you are proving that young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow — you are the leaders of today.”
Layne Robinson, Head of the Secretariat's Social Policy Development division, also emphasised the importance of creating spaces that encourage collaboration and educating young people to enhance their understanding of the Commonwealth’s mission.
“We continue to champion and support our young people and see their contributions as being critical to shaping a more just and equitable world. This is even more critical now when conflict, climate change, and social barriers have exacerbated inequalities. Through training these leaders, we are hoping to engage the over 1.6 billion young people living within Commonwealth member countries.”
Strengthening youth leadership and advocacy
Participants gained insights into the Commonwealth Secretariat's mission and programmes through presentations and capacity-building from various divisions, including media and communications, climate, governance, peace, sports for development, trade, and health.
Image
Refreshed CYC website
During the summit, the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) also unveiled a refreshed website that aims to facilitate engagement and collaboration with young people across the Commonwealth.
Joshua Opey, Chairperson of the Commonwealth Youth Council, led the demonstration of the website's interactive features. He said:
"The new website is not just a tool for communication but a platform for empowerment. It is vital that we use it to uphold the values that bind us together as youths of the Commonwealth."
The website includes discussion forums, resources for personal and professional development, as well as tools for collaborative projects. The members of the CYC were installed at the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa and will serve until 2026.
Fire-side chat with the Commonwealth Secretary-General
The former Commonwealth Secretary-General also addressed the young people, sharing messages of inspiration and insights from her storied career. The dialogue was marked by a series of probing questions from the young leaders, including 10 young correspondents who were online and the CYLS participants.
She recounted her personal ‘journey of firsts’ - from her early days in Dominica to her historic role as the first female Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. One participant noted that her inspirational address has served as a beacon of hope and inspiration for young leaders who aspire to make a difference in their communities.
During the discussion, topics ranged from achieving work-life balance to advice on garnering support for youth networks to help them execute their strategic plans and partnerships.
Engaging with the wider Commonwealth community
On 10 March, the young leaders were welcomed at Marlborough House for the Commonwealth Day reception. A highlight of the evening was interacting with His Majesty King Charles III, the Head of the Commonwealth. For the finalists, this provided an opportunity for the young finalists shortlisted for the Commonwealth Youth Awards to discuss the impact of their work.
They also witnessed the ceremony where the inaugural Commonwealth Peace Prize, which is sponsored by the Khalili Foundation, was awarded to Rev Dr James Movel Wuye and Imam Dr Muhammad Nurayn Ashafa for their tireless efforts to bridge divides by leveraging the power of faith.
Celebrating the future generation of innovators and developers
Image
Government ministers and senior government officials joined youth leaders and other stakeholders at the Commonwealth Youth Awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of young people.
The awards empower young change-makers aged 15–29 by scaling local innovations to global impact, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through education, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and inclusivity.
Stanley Anigbogu from Nigeria was awarded the 2025 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year title. He is the founder and CEO of LightEd, which transforms waste into solar innovations that supply clean energy to over 10,000 refugees in Africa.
He also emerged as the regional winner for Africa, earning a total prize of £5,000, with four other regional winners receiving £3,000 each. The awards were streamed live on YouTube, Facebook, and X. It was also broadcast live by African Youth Voices Media.
Guests watched thrilling performances from all regions of the Commonwealth, including the Kandyan Dance Company from Sri Lanka, One Drum Foundation representing Ghana, and Moeloto Iliganoa from Samoa.
Learn more about the Commonwealth Youth Awards
Media contact
-
Ijeoma Onyeator Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat
