Prince Harry and wife, Meghan arrive in Nigeria for a three-day private and unofficial visit

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex landed in Nigeria on Friday, launching a three-day private visit to the West African nation, where they will meet with wounded soldiers and visit local charities, officials said.

The Sussexes are visiting the country as it’s now a “part of the Invictus community,” Air Vice-Marshal Abidemi Marquis, director of sports for the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, said during a media briefing Thursday.

Their first engagement was an event hosted at a school in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

Outside the Lightway Academy, students lined up patiently to welcome the royal couple, alongside a troupe of dancers. They were there to kick off a two-day mental health summit run by the GEANCO Foundation, which supports girls and young women across the country with menstrual health products and education.

“We’re so honored to be with you. We have got to acknowledge those amazing dance moves! My husband was excited to jump up!” Meghan told cheering students in the school’s hall.

Harry then jumped into the conversation, asking the children about their knowledge of mental health and reminding them to look after themselves and each other.

“Will you promise to us that after today, no more being scared, no more being unsure of mental health. If you are unsure, then ask. Ask your teachers. Ask your friends. Be there for one another,” he said.

“If you see your friend in your class not smiling, what are you gonna do? You gonna check in with them? Are you gonna ask him if they’re okay? ‘cause it’s okay not to be okay.”

As they were leaving, the couple were given a traditional wooden mask and a set of books about Nigerian heritage. “I need to read these now,” the duchess added.

The pair meet with children during their visit.
The pair meet with children during their visit. Kola Sulaimon/AFP/Getty Images
Prince Harry and Meghan were invited to Nigeria by the chief of defense staff, Christopher Musa, the country’s highest-ranking military official.

Marquis said the duchess was keen to accompany her husband on the visit “as part of her lineage and heritage.” Meghan revealed in 2022 that she discovered she was 43% Nigerian from a genealogy test.

The trip to Nigeria sparked a wave of excitement among the public when it was announced two weeks ago.

Oyeyemi Aderibigbe, 38, a Lagos-based lawyer, told CNN, “I have watched Harry’s evolution and quest for personal expression… and I love how bold he is about living authentically. Meghan was my favorite character in the ‘Suits’ series. I love how she has spent so much time using her voice for good, openly sharing her experiences.”

“Together, they are using their influence to democratize opportunity and push causes for the advantage of underrepresented groups. I would love to see them at an event with young people in politics in Nigeria,” she added.

Entrepreneur Ife Durosinmi-Etti spoke of her joy that Meghan was “coming to a place that she’s absolutely loved and welcomed.”

“It got me all giddy when I found out about her Nigerian heritage because Nigerian women are smart, resilient, multitalented, they go after what they want and that’s exactly how I see her, so when I heard; I was like, ‘Yup, that’s it, it’s the Nigerian Spirit in her,’” the 35-year-old said.

A packed itinerary
This is the Sussexes’ first trip to Nigeria as a couple. Harry flew to Abuja after a quick visit to London, where he attended events marking the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games, a Paralympics-style event for wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans.

Meghan flew in from Los Angeles, and together, they will undertake a busy schedule, which includes visiting a military rehabilitation center and local organizations dedicated to supporting veterans’ welfare, Marquis said.

On Saturday, the duke is also scheduled to join wounded veterans during a sitting volleyball game and later, his wife is expected to co-host a women’s leadership event with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director-general of the World Trade Organization.

As it has been described as a private visit, the royal couple will not be meeting with Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu. However, they will meet with the governors of Lagos and Kaduna State.

The UK’s high commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, told local media that there wouldn’t be a meeting with the Nigerian leader because “they are visiting in a private capacity, not an official one.”

The couple are visiting the country following an invitation from the Nigerian Defense Headquarters, which expressed “honor and delight” that they accepted.
The couple are visiting the country following an invitation from the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, which expressed “honor and delight” that they accepted. Sunday Alamba/AP
Profound challenges
Nigeria’s military personnel face profound challenges, particularly as the country has been combating the Boko Haram insurgency since 2009.

The couple’s hosts, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters, are keen to be involved further in the Invictus Games and to be part of the wider Invictus community.

Last year’s games in Germany marked a milestone for Nigeria, as it debuted alongside Israel and Colombia, becoming the first African country to participate.

Marquis said taking part in the Invictus Games recovery program has boosted the morale of Nigerian soldiers and Nigeria has expressed interest in hosting the games, which take place every two years.

He added: “Eighty percent of our soldiers involved in these recovery programs have a better outlook in life and say it has given them the opportunity to improve their self-esteem and mental health.”

Cpl. Effiom Antigha, captain of Team Nigeria, told CNN last year that the games gave him a new lease on life. “Before now, I didn’t think I could engage myself in any of these sporting activities. The Invictus Foundation has helped develop me physically and mentally.”