Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have embarked on a 72-hour tour to Nigeria, aiming to promote the Invictus Games.
Their journey commenced on Friday, aboard a British Airways flight to Abuja, albeit slightly delayed due to the unexpected illness of the scheduled pilot. Nevertheless, a quick replacement was arranged, and they touched down just before 5 am at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja. Nigerian officials welcomed them upon arrival, guiding them discreetly to a waiting blacked-out minibus.
According to Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, a defense spokesperson, the couple’s first engagement is scheduled at midday at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja. Following this, they will proceed to Kaduna to visit wounded soldiers at a military hospital before returning to Abuja for further engagements.
The primary purpose of their visit is to promote the Invictus Games, a cause close to Harry’s heart since meeting the Nigerian team and General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff, at last year’s competition in Dusseldorf, Germany. At that event, Harry expressed Meghan’s support for Team Nigeria, having discovered her heritage from the West African nation.
Invited by General Musa, the couple will visit a school, and Harry will meet injured service members at a military hospital during their stay. Additionally, they are set to attend a training session for the charity organization Nigeria: Unconquered, which collaborates with the Invictus Games, and a reception honoring military families.
On Saturday, the agenda includes another training session for Nigeria: Unconquered and a reception hosted by the Chief of Defence Staff to honor military families. Meghan will also co-host an event on Women in Leadership with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization.
Sunday’s itinerary features a basketball clinic with Giants of Africa, a cultural reception, and a polo fundraiser for Nigeria: Unconquered.
In 2022, the Duchess of Sussex revealed in her Archetypes podcast that she had discovered through a genealogy test that she has Nigerian ancestry, making her 43% Nigerian. Reflecting on this discovery with comedian Ziwe, Meghan expressed her eagerness to explore her roots further, prompting excitement within the Nigerian community.
