The Commonwealth nations have reaffirmed their commitment to shared prosperity and development among member states.
This affirmation was made at the 2025 Nigeria edition of the Commonwealth High Commissioners Banquet and Award, organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society, Nigeria Branch, in partnership with the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja.
The 2025 event, themed “Our Commonwealth, Our Shared Heritage, and Our Shared Prosperity,” focused on fostering collaboration in addressing conflicts in member states, climate change, plastic pollution, and the development of poorer nations within the bloc.
The Convener and Country Director of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Nigeria Branch, Mr Blackson Oluseni Bayewumi, stated that the Commonwealth was the only international body that “speaks one language”, and therefore, the gap to economic prosperity had been bridged.
Mr Bayewumi called for greater economic collaboration between member states through regular migration and the offsetting of debts owed by poorer nations by wealthier ones.
The High Commissioner of Canada, Mr Michael Murphy, said Canada, as the second-largest donor in the bloc, was committed to supporting other Commonwealth nations.
“I want to say that it is important that we ensure that the Commonwealth is an institution with good purpose. In the coming years, we look forward to continuing to monetise our support to the institution, in collaboration with the Secretary General, Her Excellency Shirley Botchwey,” he said.
Also representing the Australian High Commissioner, Leilani Bin-Juda, Mr Bede Thompson said the shared values of the Commonwealth offer a platform to work together to protect core values that only global cooperation can deliver: peace and security, health, climate action, and economic stability.
“Initiatives like the Royal Commonwealth Society’s Clean Oceans Plastic Campaign remind us that practical, coordinated action—whether on land or sea—can drive real change,” he said.
He added that the Commonwealth was not just a community of nations but a community of purpose, serving as a platform for upholding the values of multilateralism and working together to deliver global solutions to global challenges.
“So together we meet today’s challenges and shape a fairer and more sustainable future,” he added.
An awardee of the 2025 Commonwealth Leadership Awards of Honour, Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum and First Lady of Kwara State, Amb. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, called for collaboration between the Commonwealth and the Government of Nigeria in the areas of education, trade, and investment.
The event featured the cutting of the Commonwealth High Commissioners Banquet cake, the presentation of the 2025 Commonwealth Leadership Awards of Honour to deserving individuals, and several keynote messages from Commonwealth member states and partners.