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Duke and Duchess of Sussex wrap up Nigeria trip
00:53 - Source: CNN
Lagos, Nigeria CNN —
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex embarked on what was officially dubbed a 3-day private visit to Nigeria, yet it unfolded with all the grandeur and attention typically reserved for royal tours.
Their first day saw them receive a red-carpet welcome complete with cultural dancers following their arrival in the Nigerian capitalofAbuja, where they kicked off a multi-day mental health summit at Lightway Academy.
There, they also unveiled a partnership between their Archewell Foundation and theGEANCO Foundation to provide students with school supplies and menstrual products.
The pair had been invited to the West African nation by the country’s highest-ranking military official, Christopher Musa. After meeting him at theNigerian Defence Headquarters, Meghan signed a guest book thanking officials for “welcoming me home.”
Despite the private nature of their visit, the couple’s itinerary resembled previous official tours they carried out before stepping back as senior working royals in 2020.
They were warmly received everywhere they went, with Nigerians showcasing their famed hospitality. The couple were showered with gifts, includinga touching portrait of a young Harry with his mum.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, receives flowers from a girl upon her arrival with Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, for an exhibition sitting volleyball match at Nigeria Unconquered, a local charity organization that supports wounded, injured, or sick servicemembers, in Abuja on May 11, 2024.
For both Nigeria and the Sussexes, this visit held significant weight.
It was an opportunity for Nigeria to demonstrate its capability to host such high-profile guests and dispel any doubts raised by skeptics, especially considering the country’s standing in the eyes of the UK’s Foreign Office as one of the most dangerous countries to visit in the world.
Nigeria has security issues with a terrorist insurgency in the northeast and northwest.However, it is a huge country — larger than the US state of Texas — and the other areasvisited by the royal couple over the past several days are relatively safe.
Meanwhile, for Prince Harry and Meghan, this marked their first major trip to Africa since relinquishingtheir official royal duties.
It was a chance for them to engage in a hearts-and-minds charm offensive, which they executed with aplomb.
Meghan, in particular, embraced exploring her Nigerian ancestryafter discovering several years agothat she is 43% Nigerianthrough a genealogy test.
On Saturday, she co-hosted a women’s leadership event with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, for about 50 leading women from across Nigerian society and politics, business, media, and culture.
During a panel discussion, moderated by Nigerian media mogul Mo Abudu, the duchessspoke passionately about uncoveringher Nigerian roots and its significance to her own identity.
She described Nigeria as “my country,” addingthat “being African American, part of it is not knowing so much about your lineage or background, where you come from specifically. And it was exciting … to discover more and understand what that really means.”
It was here that Meghan’s natural ability to connect really shone through. She chattedeffortlessly with attendees, posedfor selfies and engagedin heartfelt conversations.
At another event on Sunday at the prestigious Delborough Hotel in Lagos- where the great and good of Nigerian society had gathered to welcome the couple-she appeared visibly moved when three powerful traditional rulers honored her with royal titles.
The Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Ugochukwu Achebe christened Meghan “Ada Mazi,” which means “the daughter of the Igbo ancestral palace.”
While, the Oluwo of Iwoland, southwest, Nigeria,Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi christened her with the Yoruba name of “Adetokunbo” which means “royalty from across the seas.”
Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, take part in activities as they arrive at the Lightway Academy in Abuja on May 10, 2024.
Their engagements during the three-day visit were centered around their core passions:sports rehabilitation,mental health, and women’s empowerment.
For Harry’s part, the dukedemonstrated his compassion and connection to his late mother, Princess Diana, as he visited wounded soldiers at a military hospital in Kaduna, 150 miles from Abuja.
His first stop was to drop in on the governor of Kaduna state, Senator Uba Sani, where he was again welcomed by a troupe of dancers and a red carpet.Governor Sani sat opposite him and praised Harry as a “symbol of courage,” and “praised his service to his country.”
He added, “Please give our regards to the Duchess of Sussex, Princess Meghan.”
Harry toured about six wards at the Nigerian Army ReferenceHospital and met young men recuperating from their injuries. Many had been shot, ambushed by Boko Haram, or lost limbs due to blasts. One moment captured by photographer Misan Harriman, showing Harry holding a wounded soldier lying on the hospital bed resonated deeply and went viral on social media.
Corporal Yusef, 23, who had been shot through the knee, spoke with the duke, whoasked him about his rehab. “Are you going to try for the Invictus Games team? Are you preparing for that?… We will see you there,” Harry said.
Their visit also extended to cultural experiences, such as witnessing a vibrant dance performance and a polo match at the historic Lagos Polo Club.
Polo holds special significance for Harry and the event provided a platform to showcase his longstanding commitment to the sport and its charitable endeavors.
Amid the festivities, the couple expressed gratitude for Nigeria’s warm reception.As they bid farewell to Nigeria, Meghan declared: “I can’t wait to come back!”
