Keynote Address by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the Commonwealth Scholarships Commission UK

It is a real pleasure to be with you today – and a privilege to address such an extraordinary gathering of talent, ambition, and promise.

Let me begin by offering my sincere thanks to Professor Robin Mason and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission for convening this important moment – a moment of connection, reflection, and possibility. I also wish to thank the Government of the United Kingdom, and in particular the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, for its long-standing and deeply valued commitment to the Commonwealth Scholarship programme.

This is a partnership that has changed lives and changed nations. And I am delighted that Minister Elmore is with us today. The UK’s continued leadership in supporting education, opportunity and international cooperation across our Commonwealth family is remarkable and I commend her.

To the Commission, its Commissioners and staff – and to the many university partners across the UK who host, support and believe in you – thank you for your stewardship of one of the Commonwealth’s most powerful and enduring instruments for change. But today is not really about institutions. Today is about you. More than 300 scholars. From over 25 countries. Across every region of our Commonwealth.

Studying disciplines that will shape the future – from climate science and public health, to artificial intelligence, governance, education, and sustainable development. Each of you bring a story of talent, determination and sacrifice. And each of you carries with you the hopes of families, communities and countries that believe in what you can become – and what you can give back.

You are not only students. You are leaders of the Commonwealth. And you are standing on solid foundations. For more than six decades, the Commonwealth Scholarship programme has been built on a powerful and simple idea: that education changes lives – and that when lives change, societies benefit.

Since 1960, over 31,000 scholars have passed through this programme. Among them are Prime Ministers and cabinet ministers. Nobel Prize winners and world-class scientists. Judges, diplomats, academics, writers, innovators and social entrepreneurs. Leaders of global institutions, NGOs and major businesses.

But the true legacy of this programme is not titles or honours. It is schools and hospitals transformed. In laws reformed. In communities lifted. In ideas that took root at home and spread across borders. This is what makes the Commonwealth Scholarship more than a qualification. It is a public good. An instrument of development and peace. A bridge between nations. A living expression of Commonwealth values: fairness, opportunity, inclusion, service and societal well-being. And it is why I believe so deeply that talent is universal, even when opportunity is not.

You begin your journey at a time of extraordinary global change. The world today is defined by overlapping crises: A climate emergency that is already reshaping economies and lives. Rising inequality and unsustainable debt. Technological disruption that is transforming how we work, learn and govern. And a troubling erosion of trust – between nations, within societies, and in institutions themselves.

At the same time, geopolitical tensions are deepening. Multilateral cooperation is under strain. And the instinct in too many places is to retreat inward – to close doors rather than build bridges. For people everywhere this can feel overwhelming. But this is not a moment for despair. It is a moment for leadership. And leadership does not begin when you take office, or publish a paper, or win an election.

I tell you this from experience. Leadership begins when you decide what values will guide you – and how you will use the knowledge you gain. This is why your place within the Commonwealth matters so much. Because in a fractured world, the Commonwealth remains something rare and precious: A voluntary family of 56 nations, across five continents. Representing one-third of humanity – most of it young. Bound not by geography, but by shared principles. Connected by common language and values, legal traditions, and a belief in cooperation over coercion.

The Commonwealth is not perfect. But it is purposeful. And at a time when global connections are fraying, the Commonwealth’s role as a bridge between nations and peoples has never been more important. That bridge is built not only through diplomacy – but through people. Through students who study together. Researchers who collaborate across borders. Innovators who share ideas. And alumni who carry Commonwealth values into every corner of public life.

That is why you matter so much. You are not only beneficiaries of the Commonwealth. You are its custodians.

Last year, when I took office, I was very clear about one thing: In a changing world, the Commonwealth must be more focused, more effective, and more relevant to the lives of its people – especially its young people. That is why we have set out a new Strategic Plan, grounded in connected pillars of economic resilience, environmental resilience and democratic resilience. These are the conditions for people to live with dignity, security and hope.

Education – your education – runs through all of it, and I want to take each pillar in turn. On economic resilience, young people are not waiting for opportunity. They are creating it – reshaping economies through entrepreneurship, innovation, science and extraordinary skill. Education is the engine of that transformation. It equips you not just to find jobs, but to create value – for your communities and for the wider world.

Whether you are working in finance or farming, engineering or economics, medicine or management – you are part of a generation that must build inclusive growth, not growth that leaves people behind. The Commonwealth’s advantage – lower trade costs, shared systems, deep people-to-people links – is an enormous opportunity. But opportunity only becomes reality when it is matched with talent and leadership.

That is where you come in. On environmental resilience, we are talking about the present reality of climate change. Not some distant threat, but something which is felt acutely across our Commonwealth, from small island states to large economies. And once again, education is central to the response. You are training as climate scientists, engineers, public health experts, urban planners, lawyers and policymakers. You will design the energy systems of tomorrow. Shape climate-resilient agriculture. Develop adaptation strategies that save lives and livelihoods. And ensure that the transition to a green economy is fair and just. Those who have contributed least to climate change must not be left to bear its greatest costs.

And we believe that young people must be at the forefront of shaping solutions. Your research. Your innovation. Your voice. These are essential to the future we are trying to build. And for our democratic resilience, education is indispensable; foundational. It nurtures critical thinking. Ethical leadership. Respect for diversity and difference.

In an age of misinformation, polarisation and rapid technological change – especially AI – democratic resilience depends on people who can think independently, act responsibly, and lead with integrity. That responsibility will rest heavily on your generation. The Commonwealth stands for democracy not as an abstract ideal, but as something that must come alive in people’s daily lives. In true participation and empowerment, and the opportunity to shape decisions. You will be in a brilliant position to lead that effort.  

Being a Commonwealth Scholar is an honour. But it is also a responsibility. You are part of a global alumni community that stretches back generations – a network defined not just by excellence, but by service.

Wherever your journey takes you – back home, elsewhere in the Commonwealth, or beyond – I hope you will carry three things with you: First, a commitment to use your knowledge for the public good. Second, a determination to build bridges, not walls. And third, a lifelong connection to the Commonwealth – as a space for collaboration, solidarity and shared progress.

Stay engaged. Stay connected. And remember that your individual success is most powerful when it contributes to collective advancement.

Let me end with this. The world you are entering is complex, uncertain and demanding. But it is also rich with possibility. You are part of one of the most diverse, dynamic and youthful communities on Earth.

You have been given an extraordinary opportunity – not just to learn, but to lead. The Commonwealth believes in you. We believe that education unlocks opportunity. That partnership multiplies impact. And that when people come together across borders, values and disciplines, we are stronger. So go forward with confidence. Use your time here to learn deeply. To challenge assumptions. To build friendships that will last a lifetime. And when you leave this chapter behind, take the Commonwealth with you – not just as an institution, but as an idea: That in a divided world, cooperation still matters. That shared values are vital if we are to lead progress. And that the leaders of tomorrow – sitting here today – can help shape a more just, sustainable and connected future for us all.

I wish you every success. And I look forward to the contributions you will make – to your countries, to your communities, and to our Commonwealth.