Remarks by the Commonwealth Secretary-General at the Kings Trust International: Africa Themed Dinner

It is a joy to be among friends who believe, as I do, that the true measure of leadership is the opportunity it creates for others.

I thank the Duke of Richmond and Gordon, and all those who make the King’s Trust International such a powerful force for good. And I salute the vision of His Majesty King Charles III – whose lifelong belief in the potential of young people has transformed many lives.

This evening feels special – not only because we celebrate ten years of the King’s Trust International, but because we celebrate something larger: a decade of proof that when young people are trusted, equipped, and empowered, they do extraordinary things.

Across the Commonwealth, the numbers tell one story – 125,000 young lives transformed, three quarters of them now in work, training, or business. But behind those numbers are faces, names, and dreams – young women and men who refused to let circumstance define them.

Tonight, those dreams come into even sharper relief.

I speak to you not only as Commonwealth Secretary-General, but as a daughter of Ghana — a country that has always believed that the greatest wealth of a nation lies in the capacity of its people.

Across our continent, that truth rings out. By 2050, one in four people on this planet will be African. More than 60% of them will be under 25. That is not a challenge – it is a superpower. But only if we invest in it.

Because youth without opportunity is potential unrealised. And potential without purpose is a story unfinished. The King’s Trust understands this better than anyone. Through its programmes in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and beyond, it is giving young Africans skills and confidence; opportunities; jobs; purpose and dignity.  It is proving that when we invest in youth, we invest in peace, in prosperity, and in the promise of our continent.

As Secretary-General, my mission is rooted in the same belief.

The Commonwealth today is 56 nations strong, a third of humanity – and at its heart, 21 African countries whose young people are driving innovation in business, technology, and the green economy. Through our programmes, we are building trade and enterprise, nurturing climate resilience, and strengthening governance – but at the centre of all of it are young people.

They are not just the beneficiaries of our work; they are its beating heart. Because I have seen it again and again: when young Africans are given a platform, they do not ask for permission to lead – they get on with it. They build companies, they teach, they heal, they create – they take what was once impossible, and make it inevitable.

That is the spirit of partnership we celebrate tonight. And it is the spirit that must define the next decade of growth in Ghana and throughout Africa.

But, friends, this transformation does not happen by accident. It happens when vision meets investment – when we decide that our responsibility is not only to succeed ourselves, but to lift others as we climb. That is why this gathering matters.

Because each of us here – in our own way – has the power to open a door, fund a dream, mentor a young leader, or champion an idea that could change a life. The King’s Trust is showing us the model. But scaling it – across West Africa, across the Commonwealth – requires a community of believers, builders, and benefactors.

So tonight, I ask simply this: Let’s make this mission our own. Let’s bring together our resources, the capacity of our institutions, our influence, and our imagination – to light new paths for the next generation. Because we know that when one young person rises, a family rises. When families rise, communities change.

And when communities change, nations are transformed. When I think back to my own journey – from the classrooms of Accra to this role at the helm of the Commonwealth – I am reminded that none of us walks alone. We are shaped by the mentors who believed in us, the teachers who challenged us, the institutions that opened doors.

The work of the King’s Trust is to be that open door – for a million more young people across twenty nations. That is legacy in motion, and an impact that endures. It is how we will ensure that Africa’s next generation not only learns and earns — but truly thrives.

So tonight, as we break bread, let us renew our shared conviction: that the future belongs to those who are prepared for it – and it is our duty to help our people prepare.

Let’s work together, to invest in them, so that they may unleash their potential on the world. 

Our collective efforts can help to build a generation worthy of Africa’s greatness.