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More than £250m pledged to help fight against extreme poverty

The pledges were made at an event at the O2 Academy in Brixton, hosted by TV presenter Maya Jama while Professor Green and Emeli Sande both performed.

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Hosts Ade Adepitan (left) and Maya Jama on stage at the Global Citizen Live event (Matt Crossick/PA)

Commonwealth leaders pledged more than £250 million to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030 at a star-studded event in London.

The UK’s Secretary of State for International Development, Penny Mordaunt, was among the guests and promised to commit £212million towards providing almost one million girls across the Commonwealth with access to “quality education” by 2025.

Australia would provide a further £1.7million towards education in the Commonwealth, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, the country’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific said.

Global Citizen Live – London
The crowd at the 02 Brixton Academy (Matt Crossick/PA)

All three celebrities backed politicians’ promises to combat extreme poverty.

Jama, 23, told the Press Association: “It’s so important to spread awareness of all the issues raised tonight and I am honoured to be a part of it.

“Global Citizen is something I have followed for a long time so for them to ask me, I immediately said 100% yes.”

Jama, 23, also hopes she can encourage her young fanbase to get behind the causes backed by Global Citizen.

Global Citizen Live – London
Kojo Funds (Matt Crossick/PA)

He called poverty a “political decision” and predicted the younger generation will “turn everything on its head”.

He told the Press Association: “The next generation are going to turn everything on its head because they are so much better educated in things, such as politics and mental health. They are just more engaged.”

Sande, who performed her hit Next To Me, said ending extreme poverty by 2030 was a realistic goal.

She told the Press Association: “I am here because I really believe in what they (Global Citizen) are fighting for in ending extreme poverty.

“It’s a realistic goal, in this day and age it shouldn’t be happening. It shouldn’t be such an injustice in the world.”

Naughty Boy, Gabrielle Aplin, Kojo Funds and Little Simz also performed.

Global Citizen Live – London
Gabrielle Aplin (Matt Crossick/PA)

The money pledged – which was more than £300million following donations from businesses  – will help at least 17 million people living in extreme poverty around the world, organisers said.

Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan appeared on stage and urged politicians to honour the legacy of Mandela, who had called for an end to extreme poverty.

Global Citizen Live – London
Kofi Annan (Matt Crossick/PA)

“Real change comes from people. You are never too young to lead and we, the older generation, are never too old to learn from your wisdom. So please join us. Walk together and help us continue Mandela’s long walk to freedom.”

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