Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, wrapped up their three-day visit to the country on Sunday, arriving in Lagos during a trip to promote his Invictus Games for wounded military veterans.
The couple were thrilled to sports and dances in Lagos as they canvassed unity through sports.
The Duke of Sussex arrived with his wife on Friday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, where they visited a school event on mental health, in a trip that also saw the prince meet wounded soldiers.
On day three of the visit, Prince Harry and Meghan took part in a basketball event with the Giants of Africa Foundation in Lagos, an organization that helps youth through engagement in the sport.
The prince practiced dribbling basketballs with children at the exhibition event for the foundation, which is run by a basketball veteran, Masai Ujiri.
Harry said, “The power of sports can change lives, it brings people together and creates community and there are no barriers which is the most important thing.”
The former army captain who flew helicopters in Afghanistan, founded the Invictus Games 10 years ago to help bring wounded veterans into sporting events to aid with their recuperation.
The couple later met with the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and were also set to take part in a Lagos fundraiser.
While speaking, the governor said it was a pleasure to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and share the vibrant culture of Lagos with them.
“Looking forward to potential opportunities to host the Invictus Games in Nigeria and to showcase the resilience and spirit of our people,” the governor added in a post on X.
Speaking earlier, Sanwo-Olu extolled Meghan’s Nigerian heritage.
In a video posted on X by his Special Assistant on New Media, Jubril Gawat, the governor said knowing fully well “that Meghan has a decent percentage of Nigerian in her; we have sort of agreed that maybe that percentage should stay in Yoruba land. I can see she has been well attired and her yellow Aso Oke blends very well.”
On Friday afternoon, Meghan sat at an event for women in leadership with World Trade Organization Director, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, where the Duchess discussed her Nigerian heritage and being a role model to women.
“I want to start by saying thank you very much for just how gracious you’ve all been in welcoming my husband and I to this country,” she said to applause, before adding, “my country”.
“It’s been really eye-opening and humbling to be able to know more about my heritage and to be able to know, this is just the beginning of that discovery,” she added.
In Abuja, the prince had also taken part in a seated volleyball match with veterans, some of whom had missing limbs from combat in the North where troops battled terrorists.
Before Nigeria, Prince Harry was in London on Wednesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the games.
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