Nigerians warmly welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, during their recent visit. The three-day trip was filled with memorable activities, starting with a traditional welcome dance in Abuja. They participated in a mental health summit at Lightway Academy, where Prince Harry engaged with wounded soldiers. In Kaduna State, Governor Uba Sani presented Harry with traditional attire and photo frames of him with his late mother and wife. The tour aimed to promote mental health awareness and the Invictus Games.
In Lagos, Prince Harry stayed at the exclusive Delborough Hotel, attended a basketball game with the Giants of Africa Foundation, and played with children, emphasizing the unifying power of sports. The couple also enjoyed hospitality at the Lagos Polo Club during the 2024 Charity Polo Day. Meghan, who discovered she is 43% Nigerian, expressed her desire to connect with her roots. Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu highlighted the informative and engaging nature of the visit, hoping Harry would appreciate Nigeria’s diversity and commitment to peace.
Meghan Markle, wife of Prince Harry, has expressed her gratitude to Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo in Osun State, for his warm hospitality during their three-day working visit to Nigeria in May. In a letter to the monarch, Meghan appreciated the Yoruba name “Adetokunbo” that he bestowed upon her during the visit.
According to a release by the monarch’s Press Secretary, Alli Ibrahim, Oluwo noted that Meghan’s letter acknowledged the honour of receiving the traditional name. The release also recounted that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in Nigeria in May, where Oba Akanbi, the only Yoruba Oba invited, welcomed them with a royal reception at Delborough Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos. During this event, the monarch presented Meghan with traditional Yoruba gifts, including Ofi fabric and royal beads.
The visit attracted negative publicity in the British press, with harsh descriptions of Oluwo featured prominently in a major newspaper, which also displayed his picture with Prince Harry on the front page.
In her letter, Meghan wrote, “Thank you for your warm welcome to Nigeria. I’m deeply humbled by your blessing of the traditional Yoruba name, Adetokunbo. I treasure the name and appreciate your trust in me to carry it with grace and dignity. Our visit to Nigeria was important for many reasons, not least because it allowed us to explore and understand my heritage, which extends to our children. We look forward to coming back home one day soon.”
Sources:
https://punchng.com/meghan-markle-writes-commends-osun-monarchs-hospitality-during-nigeria-visit
