Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrived in Nigeria earlier this morning and the first pictures of their trip have been released. The couple, who are in the West African country to champion the Invictus Games, are visiting children at the Lights Academy in Abuja.
The Duchess of Sussex spoke to the Nigerian schoolchildren and encouraged them to “be honest with each other” and look after their mental health.
The couple are marking the trip after receiving an invitation from Nigeria’s Defence Ministry at the last Invictus Games tournament in Germany last September. It marks their first trip to Nigeria and comes after Meghan revealed she has Nigerian ancestry.
Harry and Meghan will be meeting wounded soldiers and their families in what Nigerian officials have said is a show of support to improve the soldiers’ morale and wellbeing.
Abidemi Marquis, director of sports at Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, said: “This engagement with Invictus is giving us the opportunity for the recovery of our soldiers.”
During their trip, Harry and Meghan will attend basketball and volleyball matches and will meet with local non-governmental organisations in Abuja and Lagos, which are receiving support from them.
The Duchess, who has been a vocal feminist over the years, will also co-host an event on women in leadership with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization.
On Sunday, the couple will fly to Lagos on the west coast, where they will attend a “basketball clinic” called Giants of Africa at a local school and be the guests at a cultural reception of prominent Nigerians.
Many have branded Harry and Meghan’s Nigeria trip as a “mini royal tour” as their itinerary replicates that of a senior working royal abroad.
This is despite the pair stepping down as senior working royals at the beginning of 2020.
