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Courtside with royalty: Harry and Meghan's Invictus Games spirit shines in Nigeria

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Britain's Prince Harry (2ndR), Duke of Sussex, and Meghan (R), Duchess of Sussex, react as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (unseen), gives a speech at the State Governor House in Lagos on 12 May 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. (Kola Sulaimon/AFP)
Britain's Prince Harry (2ndR), Duke of Sussex, and Meghan (R), Duchess of Sussex, react as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (unseen), gives a speech at the State Governor House in Lagos on 12 May 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. (Kola Sulaimon/AFP)
  • Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wrapped up their three-day visit to Nigeria on Sunday.
  • They arrived in the country's economic capital, Lagos, during a trip to promote his Invictus Games for wounded military veterans.
  • On day three of the visit, Prince Harry and Meghan took part in a basketball event with the Giants of Africa Foundation in Lagos.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan wrapped up their three-day visit to Nigeria on Sunday, arriving in the country's economic capital Lagos during a trip to promote his Invictus Games for wounded military veterans.

The Duke of Sussex arrived with his wife on Friday in Nigeria's capital Abuja, where they visited a school event on mental health, in a trip that also saw the prince meet wounded Nigerian soldiers in the country's northwest.

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 organisation helping youth through engagement in the sport.

READ | In Nigeria, Prince Harry promotes Invictus Games for veterans

The prince practised dribbling basketballs with children at the exhibition event for the foundation, which is run by vice-president of an NBA team, Masai Ujiri.

"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 prince said.

Harry, a 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 also met with Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

"He has seen a lot and is still soaking in a whole lot," the governor said of the prince's experience of Nigeria.

Later, the couple watched a charity exhibition match at Lagos polo club and presented prizes to young participants.

Lagos Polo Club President Bode Makanjuola (L), his wife Moyo Makanjuola (2ndL), Britain's Meghan (3rdL), Duchess of Sussex, Britain's Prince Harry (4thL)), Duke of Sussex, Nigeria Chief of Defense Staff Christopher Musa (3ndR), his wife Lilian Musa (2ndR) and Regional head of Equity Research for West Africa at Standard Bank group, Muyiwa Oni (R) pose for a photo with children after a charity polo game at the Ikoyi Polo Club in Lagos on 12 May 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. (Kola Sulaimon/AFP)
Britain's Prince Harry (L), Duke of Sussex, and Britain's Meghan (R), Duchess of Sussex, attend a charity polo game at the Ikoyi Polo Club in Lagos on 12 May 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. (Kola Sulaimon/AFP)
Britain's Prince Harry (C), Duke of Sussex, takes part in a basketball exhibition training match at Ilupeju Grammar School in Lagos on 12 May 2024 as he and Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. (Kola Sulaimon/AFP)
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (2ndR) interac
Britain's Meghan, Duchess of Sussex (2ndR) interacts with children as she and Britain's Prince Harry (unseen), Duke of Sussex, attend a basketball exhibition training match at Ilupeju Grammar School in Lagos on May 12, 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. (Kola Sulaimon/AFP)

Nigerian heritage

On Friday afternoon, Meghan sat on an event for women in leadership with Nigerian-born World Trade Organisation 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".

She continued:

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.

In Abuja, the prince had also taken part in a seated volleyball match with Nigerian veterans, some of whom were missing limbs from combat in the country's north, where troops battle jihadists and heavily armed criminal gangs.

On the Duke's volleyball team was former Nigerian soldier Peacemaker Azuegbulam, who lost his leg in combat in the northeast, and became the first African to win gold at the Invictus Games in Germany last year.

READ | Harry and Meghan visit school in Nigeria, kick off three-day Invictus drive

Before Nigeria, Prince Harry was in London on Wednesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the games.

Britain's Meghan (L), Duchess of Sussex, and Britain's Prince Harry (R), Duke of Sussex arrive at the State Governor House in Lagos on May 12, 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. (Kola Sulaimon/AFP)
Britain's Prince Harry (2ndR), Duke of Sussex, and
Britain's Prince Harry (2ndR), Duke of Sussex, and Britain's Meghan (R), Duchess of Sussex, react as Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu (2ndL), gives a speech at the State Governor House in Lagos on 12 May 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. (Kola Sulaimon/AFP)

His trips to the UK since he moved to the United States in 2020 always prompt fresh speculation over a potential reconciliation with his family. But he did not meet with his father King Charles on this trip.

Nigeria's military forces are battling armed groups on several fronts.

A long-running jihadist insurgency in the northeast has killed more than 40 000 people and displaced another two million since 2009. Militants have been pushed back from areas they once controlled, but they now target convoys with roadside bombs.

In northwestern and central states, heavily armed criminal gangs, known locally as bandits, carry out mass kidnappings for ransom and raid villages from camps hidden deep in remote forests.

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