By Esther Onyegbula

Organisers of the Commonwealth Day of Service 2026 have called for stronger collaboration among youth leaders, service organisations and community stakeholders to accelerate development initiatives and expand community impact across the Commonwealth.

The call was made during the event themed “Uniting for Impact: Youth and Rotary Leaders Driving Change Across the Commonwealth,” which brought together youth leaders, Rotarians, traditional representatives and development partners to explore strategies for strengthening youth leadership and community service.

Speaking on behalf of the organisers, Ashaolu Funmilola Praise described the event as a platform designed to mobilise young leaders and service organisations to work together in addressing pressing social challenges.

According to her, the Commonwealth Day of Service serves as an opportunity to reaffirm the shared commitment of youth leaders to service, leadership and sustainable community development.

“Today is not just another gathering. It is a moment that reflects our shared commitment to service, leadership and community impact across the Commonwealth,” she said.

She noted that the theme of the programme highlights the importance of partnerships in tackling major issues such as youth unemployment, health inequalities and gaps in education.

“The challenges facing our communities today cannot be solved in isolation. They require partnerships, collaboration and collective action,” she added.

Also speaking at the event, Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (Lagos State Chapter), Engr. Ibrahim Olalekan, urged young Nigerians to take greater responsibility for national development and actively participate in the democratic process.

He emphasised that the future of the country depends largely on the ideas, commitment and actions of young people, particularly in a state like Lagos that continues to attract young people seeking opportunities.

“As young people we must know that the development of our country, the development of our state, the development of our locality and any space that we find ourselves in depends on every young person in that space,” he said.

Olalekan also stressed the need for collaboration among youth leaders to amplify their impact and support development efforts across communities.

“All of us coming together to complement the effort of each other is the only way to go for development of young people and to continue to amplify our voices,” he said.

He further encouraged young Nigerians to remain optimistic about the country’s future and contribute to promoting positive narratives about Nigeria.

“The Nigerian project is a work in progress. The Lagos project is a work in progress. We must have firm optimism in the development of the space we occupy,” he stated.

Olalekan also urged youths to participate actively in the electoral process by registering to vote and resisting vote-selling during elections.

“When it is time for us to decide who leads us in every space that we find ourselves, let us go and get our PVC. Continuous voter registration is ongoing. Let us leverage this process, get our PVC and on election day do not sell your vote,” he said.

President of the Rotaract E-Club of the Commonwealth, Rtr. Hamzat Abdullahi, said the organisation provides a global platform for young people to collaborate and strengthen their contributions to community development.

“For young individuals, we are doing so well in different spaces across the world. Coming together allows us to amplify what we do and showcase the impact of youth leadership,” he said.

Representing the Oniba of Iba Kingdom, Oba Sulaimon Adesina Raji, Olori Raji Muslimah Abikeola commended Rotary and youth organisations for their sustained commitment to humanitarian service and youth empowerment.

“For over a century, Rotary has stood as a shining example of what can be achieved when people come together with a shared vision of service,” she said.

She emphasised that empowering young people remains essential to building stronger communities and nations.

“The future of our communities and our nations lies in the hands of young people who are creative, energetic and full of potential. However, potentials must be guided and supported to flourish,” she said.

Also speaking, Chief Executive Officer of TeamAce Limited, Dr. Richard Edi, noted that Rotary’s mission aligns with that of many global youth development organisations focused on community development, international cooperation and economic empowerment.