Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday evening presented awards to the 2016
Queens’ Young Leaders from 60 exceptional young leaders from 45
Commonwealth nations, including three Nigerians- Olanrewaju Adeloye,
Imrana Alhaji Buba and Olumide Femi Makanjuola, in a special ceremony at
Buckingham Palace.
Prince Harry and football star David Beckham who attended the ceremony
hailed inspirational young people from across the Commonwealth as role
models to others as their achievements were honoured by the Queen.
Harry described the 60 winners of the Queen’s Young Leaders Awards as
“an inspiration to so many” when they received medals for showing
exceptional leadership in their communities.
Beckham said he hoped his children would look up to those being honoured
during the Buckingham Palace ceremony.The footballer, who attended the
inaugural awards ceremony last year, said:
“I want my children to be inspired by these guys, whatever they want to
be, to be honest, as long as they have dreams, aspirations and what
better people to look at than these young women and men.”
The award recognises the exceptional leadership of young people from
across the Commonwealth’s member states and Harry paid his own tribute
to the Queen for her role leading the nation.
During the presentation ceremony led by the Queen, he said:
“I have been extremely fortunate to meet many exceptional people over
the years, but none more so than Her Majesty The Queen. As the head of
the Commonwealth, the Nation, the Armed Forces and our family, I – like
millions of others across the world – have been able to look to her for
inspiration and guidance.
“The Queen, who assumed the challenge of leadership at such a young age,
has shown us all the importance of selfless commitment and service. She
is the example I aspire to and the standard by which I will judge my
contribution.
Harry told the winners gathered in the Palace’s ballroom: “The Queen’s
Young Leaders award recognises what you have achieved, not for
yourselves, but for your communities, for your peers, and for those less
fortunate.
“Your service spans a broad spectrum of fields from HIV and sexual
health education, to micro finance and the recycling of hi-tech waste.
You have already been an inspiration to so many, but I hope this award
will inspire you to go out and achieve even greater things in the
future, empowered by the network of leaders you now sit amongst.”
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