Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, are set to visit Nigeria in May, following the country’s debut at the 2023 Invictus Games held in Düsseldorf, Germany. The visit is in response to an invitation from Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, Mohammed Badaru, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s ties to the Invictus Games.
The Invictus Games, founded by Prince Harry, is an international sporting event for wounded, injured, and sick servicemen and women, both active duty and veterans. Nigeria was one of three new entrants in 2023, alongside Colombia and Israel, bringing the total number of participating nations to 21.
The invitation to visit Nigeria came from Badaru, who attended the 2023 event and expressed interest in hosting the games in Nigeria in the future. The visit by Harry and Meghan is seen as a step toward consolidating Nigeria’s growing role in the Invictus Games.
A statement from Brigadier General Tukur Vusau, the Acting Director of Defence Information, explained that the visit aims to “consolidate Nigeria’s stronghold at the game and the possibility of hosting the event in later years.”
Prince Harry’s connection to Nigeria goes beyond the games; during the opening speech, he mentioned that his wife, Meghan Markle, recently discovered that she is of Nigerian descent. Meghan took a genealogy test in 2022 and found out that she is 43% Nigerian. Harry jokingly commented that this new information might make the competition more intense, as his wife might be more supportive of the Nigerian team.
While in Nigeria, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to meet with service members and participate in various cultural activities. They will also connect with the Nigerian team, who presented them with a plaque from the Chief of Defence Staff and gave Meghan a new nickname, “Amira Ngozi Lolo.” The name holds a royal meaning, with “Amira” referring to a warrior princess from a legend, “Ngozi” meaning “blessed,” and “Lolo” signifying “royal wife.”
Before heading to Nigeria, Prince Harry is set to attend the Invictus Games’ 10th anniversary celebration at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on May 8, 2024. Meghan Markle will join him in Nigeria shortly after the event.
For more information about Meghan Markle’s Nigerian heritage and her journey to discover more about it, she discussed it in a podcast episode of “Archetypes,” where she expressed her enthusiasm for exploring her roots.