Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, and his wife, Meghan, have arrived in Nigeria for a three-day private visit. The royal couple arrived in Abuja on Friday, May 10, 2024, after boarding a British Airways overnight flight.
According to their spokesperson, Charlie Gipson, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are in Nigeria to champion discussions around the country’s possibility of hosting the Invictus Games. The Invictus Games is an international multi-sport event founded by Prince Harry to rehabilitate wounded, injured, and ill servicemen and women.
During their stay, the royal couple will attend basketball and volleyball matches and meet with local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Abuja and Lagos. Meghan will also co-host an event on ‘Women in Leadership’ with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The Nigerian military has expressed interest in hosting the Invictus Games, which could help in the recovery of thousands of its personnel who have been fighting Boko Haram terrorists and their factions since 2009. The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Baduru, is keen on playing host if Nigeria gets the nod.
This visit marks the first time the royal couple will be visiting Nigeria, and it is expected to strengthen the relationship between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.