The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, embarked on a major journey to Nigeria on the 10th of May, 2024, with a primary focus on discussions regarding the potential hosting of the Invictus Games, an initiative he founded to support the rehabilitation of wounded and sick service members and veterans, including Nigerian soldiers engaged in a 14-year conflict against Islamic extremists.
Landing in Nigeria via a British Airways overnight flight to Abuja, the royal couple commenced their three-day visit, as confirmed by their spokesperson, Charlie Gipson.
Meghan and Harry’s trip to Nigeria is their first international tour since leaving their roles as senior working royals in 2020.
It is also their first visit to Nigeria, which holds a special place in the Duchess of Sussex’s heart after she discovered via a genealogy test that she is 43% Nigerian on a 2022 episode of her Archetypes podcast.
It’s worth noting that this visit is not an official royal tour but rather a private engagement linked to Prince Harry’s role as the founder and patron of the Invictus Games.
Their itinerary commenced with a subdued welcome ceremony in Abuja, followed by a series of engagements, including a school visit, a meeting with General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, and a heartfelt visit to a military hospital to meet with sick and wounded servicemen. Additionally, on the first day, the couple extended their support to wounded soldiers in Kaduna.
Continuing their journey on the second day, Prince Harry and Meghan visited the Nigeria: Unconquered organisation, engaging with the dedicated staff responsible for managing the country’s participation in the Invictus Games.
A highlight of their day was participating in a seated volleyball match with Army veterans, some of whom were missing limbs from combat in the country’s north, where troops battled jihadists and heavily armed criminal gangs organised by Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa.
In a notable move, Meghan participated as a panellist in a “Women in Leadership” event, hosted by Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director-general of the World Trade Organisation, where the Duchess discussed her Nigerian heritage and being a role model to women.
“I want to start by saying thank you very much for just how gracious you’ve all been in welcoming my husband and I to this country,” she said to applause before adding, “My country.”
“It’s been really eye-opening and humbling to be able to know more about my heritage, and to be able to know, this is just the beginning of that discovery.”
Wrapping up their visit on the third day in Lagos, the royal couple met with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, engaged in a cultural reception, and partook in other noteworthy events.
“He has seen a lot and is still soaking in a whole lot,” the governor said of the prince’s experience in Nigeria.
As part of their commitment to the tour, Prince Harry and Meghan attended a basketball clinic at Ilupeju Junior Grammar School, organised by the vice president of the Masai Ujiri Giants of Africa Foundation, adding a philanthropic dimension to their visit.
The prince practiced dribbling basketballs with children at the exhibition event for the foundation.
“The power of sports can change lives, it brings people together and creates community, and there are no barriers, which is the most important thing,” the prince said.
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