Prince Harry and Meghan Markle arrived in Abuja, Nigeria on Friday for a multi-day visit focused on mental health initiatives and the Invictus Games.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were invited by the Nigerian military and kicked off their trip at the Lightway Academy, a school supported by their Archewell Foundation that educates girls affected by conflict.
Mental health advocacy for young people impacted by war was a key theme. Harry, a veteran himself, founded the Invictus Games to support the rehabilitation of wounded service members and veterans through sports. Nigeria, which has been battling Boko Haram insurgents for over a decade, is seen as a potential beneficiary of the program.
“This engagement with Invictus is giving us the opportunity for the recovery of our soldiers,” said Abidemi Marquis, director of sports for the Nigerian Defense Headquarters.
The couple’s itinerary includes attending basketball and volleyball games, meeting with local NGOs, and a co-hosted event on women’s leadership with World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Meghan, who has Nigerian ancestry, is a source of particular excitement for some Nigerians.
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