Prince Harry and Meghan visit Nigeria to champion mental health

(10 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Abuja, Nigeria - 10 May 2024
1. Wide of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan applauding a performance
2. Tracking shot of Harry and Meghan greeting children at Lightway Academy
3. Mid of Harry and Meghan watching a performance
4. Wide of Harry and Meghan walking to their vehicle
5. Wide of Harry inspecting military personnel
STORYLINE:
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan arrived in Nigeria on Friday to champion mental health for young people affected by conflicts and to promote the Invictus Games, which the prince founded to aid the rehabilitation of wounded and sick servicemembers and veterans.
The couple, in the West African nation for the first time on the invitation of its military, visited the Lightway Academy college which receives support from their Archewell foundation to educate and train young girls affected by conflicts in Nigeria.
The couple were received at the Abuja school by a dancing troupe and a crowd of excited students and teachers.
Harry and Meghan will also be meeting with wounded soldiers and their families in what Nigerian officials have said is a show of support to improve the morale of the soldiers, including those fighting a 14-year war against Islamic extremists in the country's northeast.
Harry served in Afghanistan as an Apache helicopter co-pilot gunner, after which he founded the Invictus Games in 2014 to offer wounded veterans and servicemembers the challenge of competing in sports events similar to the Paralympics.
Nigeria was among the nations that participated in last year’s edition of the games.
During their stay, Harry and Meghan will attend basketball and volleyball matches and will meet with local non-governmental organizations in Abuja and Lagos that are receiving support from them.
Meghan will also co-host an event on women in leadership with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization, according to their spokesman Charlie Gipson.
The news of Meghan’s visit excited some in Nigeria where her life - and association with the British royal family - is closely followed.
Meghan has also said in the past that she found out through a genealogy test that she was 43% Nigerian.
The Nigerian military has touted the Invictus Games as one which could help the recovery of thousands of its personnel who have been fighting the homegrown Boko Haram Islamic extremists and their factions since 2009 when they launched an insurgency.
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