Prince Harry and Meghan Champion Mental Health and Invictus Games in Nigeria
Prince Harry and Meghan Make Heartfelt Visit to Nigeria to Champion Mental Health and Invictus Games
ABUJA, Nigeria — Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, made a grand entrance to Nigeria on Friday, greeted with pomp and dancing as they arrived to champion mental health for young people affected by conflicts and promote the Invictus Games. The Invictus Games were founded by Prince Harry to aid in the rehabilitation of wounded and sick service members and veterans.
The royal couple’s three-day visit began with a visit to the Lightway Academy school, which receives support from their Archewell foundation to train young girls affected by conflicts in Nigeria. They also met with the nation’s military officers and wounded soldiers and their families, showing support for those fighting against Islamic extremists in the country’s northeast.
Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter copilot gunner, founded the Invictus Games in 2014 to provide wounded veterans and service members with the opportunity to compete in sports events similar to the Paralympics. Nigeria participated in last year’s edition of the games.
At the Abuja school, the couple kicked off an inaugural mental health summit organized by local non-profit GEANCO, where they interacted with students and teachers, discussing mental health and their own children, Archie and Lilibet.
During their visit, Prince Harry and Meghan will attend basketball and volleyball matches 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.
The news of Meghan’s visit has excited many in Nigeria, where her life and association with the British royal family are closely followed. Meghan has previously shared that she discovered through a genealogy test that she is 43% Nigerian.
The Nigerian military has praised the Invictus Games for its positive impact on the recovery of personnel involved in fighting against Boko Haram Islamic extremists since 2009. The games have helped improve personal self-esteem, mental health, and emotional intelligence for many soldiers.
Overall, Prince Harry and Meghan’s visit to Nigeria has been met with enthusiasm and gratitude, as they continue to use their platform to advocate for mental health awareness and support for wounded veterans and service members.