Queen Elizabeth calls for upholding of Common waelth ideals

Queen Elizabeth II

The Head of Commonwealth and Queen of England, Elizabeth II, on Monday said the Commonwealth could only flourish if its ideas and ideals continued to be young, fresh and relevant to all generations.

She stated this in her message to commemorate this year’s Commonwealth Day by 53-member nations with the theme, ‘A young Commonwealth’, read on her behalf in Abuja by the Director of Educational Support Services in the Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Justina Ibe.

According to her,

what member nations benefit from Commonwealth membership is more important and worthy of protection in the second decade of the 21st Century.

She said the 53-member nations had over the years, from their shared history, seen and acted upon the huge advantages of mutual cooperation and understanding for themselves and their citizens.

The Queen said, “Not only are there tremendous rewards for this cooperation, but through dialogue, we protect ourselves against the dangers that can so easily arise from a failure to talk or to see the other person’s point of view.

“Indeed, it seems to me that now in the second decade of 21st century, what we share through being members of the Commonwealth is more important and worthy of protection than perhaps at any other time in the Commonwealth’s existence.

“We are guardians of a precious flame and it is our duty to keep it burning brightly but to keep it replenished for the decades ahead.”

She added that a young commonwealth was a globally diverse and inclusive community that opened up new possibilities for development through trust and encouragement.

“Commonwealth Day provides each of us as members this worldwide family, with a chance to recommit ourselves to upholding the values of the Commonwealth charter. It has the power to enrich us all, but, just as importantly in an uncertain world, it gives us a good reason to keep talking,” Queen Elizabeth said.

While speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Viola Onwuliri, urged Nigerians and citizens of Commonwealth to embrace the ideals that bound them together.