The Commonwealth Africa Initiative have commended Nigeria’s leading 24-hour pan-African news channel, Television Continental (TVC) for their immense support towards the Success of the Commonwealth Africa Summit in London 2016.
The Summit Secretariat co-coordinator Laura Opondo expressed the organisation’s gratitude to the Media House while addressing Commonwealth Leaders and Africans in Diaspora in London during the recently concluded Commonwealth Day Service and Commonwealth Africa Summit activities in London in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, The Duke of Edinburgh and other Commonwealth Leaders in London.
According to Ms Opondo, “Our exclusive partnership with TVC for the coverage of the Commonwealth Africa Summit was because of the Outfit’s credibility, coverage, reach and reputation across Africa”. TVC who was selected as official Media partner for the Summit provided the summit, wide coverage, pre and during the event to her wide array of audience across Africa.
The 2016 Commonwealth Week activities was also dedicated to Her Majesty’s 90th Birthday.
Special guests at the weeklong activity included Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and HRH Prince Phillip the Duke of Edinburgh; HRH Prince Andrew The Duke of York; HRH Prince Williams and HRH Kate Middleton; HRH Prince Harry; Co-Chair of the Commonwealth Africa Initiative Baroness Shreela Flather; Lisa Cameron MP; Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh Dr. Shirin Chaudhary; Prime Minister David Cameron; Baroness Scotland (New Commonwealth Secretary General); H.E Kamalesh Sharma (Outgoing Commonwealth Secretary General); Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat; Executive Director of the Commonwealth Africa Initiative and Regional Director (Africa) for GLEEHD Foundation Mr Dayo Israel; CEO Pan African Minerals Mr Moseray Fadika; Nigeria’s Minister of Sport Mr Solomon Dalong; Former Governor of Ebonyi State Nigeria and Chairman Nigeria’s Senate Committee on Industry Senator Sam Egwu; Permanent Secretary Lagos State Ministry of Women Affairs Mrs Oduwole; CEO DSTV Sierra Leone Mr Adonis Abboud; CEO Sightsavers Dr. Caroline Harper; Chairman Danish UK Chambers of Commerce Mr Wheeler; CEO Challenges Worldwide Eoghan Mackie; Bishop John Francis; Pastor Andrew Adeleke, CEO BEN Television Mr Alistair Soyode and many more.
Continental Broadcasting Service’s Chief Executive Officer, Nigel Parsons, said “This is the first time that a Nigerian media organisation would be given the official media title rights to partner on the event. We see this as another opportunity to reinforce that TVC NEWS is the only Nigerian broadcast media outfit that has the capacity to cover and broadcast 24 hours a day across Africa.”
The Commonwealth Africa Summit with the theme “Shared Prosperity. Mutual Security” was also attended by Mayors from across London; High Commissioners, Members of Parliament and a huge number of the African Diaspora Community leaders and citizens from across the Commonwealth.
In His opening remark at the Summit, President Obasanjo said “Although the notion is that Africa must always learn from their commonwealth counterpart in developed world, the reality is that there is a lot of good things that can also be learnt from Africa”.
The Former President also added “If Globalisation means I open my door and you take things out but you close your own door to me, then to hell with globalisation”.
The Summit began with a Wreath laying ceremony at the Memorial gate where member states laid wreath in honour of the dead of the 2 World Wars. Commonwealth Africa Initiative Co-Chair Baroness Flather while speaking to the audience at the event which had in attendance the new Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Scotland said “through this activity, we are able to honour the Africans who fought in the 2 world wars, like the Nigerians who fought alongside the British in Burma”.
Dr. Caroline Harper while speaking at the Summit at the prestigious Tag Hotel in Victoria said “We must leave no one behind in the Commonwealth and as the SDG says, we must reach the farthest behind first”.
The Queen’s annual Commonwealth Day message formed part of the event’s programme at Westminster Abbey and in it she wrote: “Today, and in the year ahead, the theme An Inclusive Commonwealth is an inspiration for us all. Let us give it practical effect by supporting those in need and those who feel excluded in all walks of life.
By doing so, we will continue to build a truly representative Commonwealth community.”
The weeklong activity also featured a one to one meeting with HRH Prince Andrew the Duke of York which was attended by CAFI Co-Chair Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, CAFI Executive Director Dayo Israel and others.
Delegates also joined the outgoing Commonwealth Secretary General H.E Kamalesh Sharma at the Commonwealth Young Leaders Award Ceremony at Marlborough House, the Secretariat of the Commonwealth.
The London Summit is being followed by a series of activities in South Africa, Guyana, Sierra Leone, Nigeria and the UK Houses of Parliament ahead of the 2017 Summit slated for 13th – 15th March 2017 in London.
