Sanwo-Olu receives Prince Harry, Meghan Markle

L-R: Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle; the Duke, Prince Harry; Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu during a courtesy visit by the Duke and Duchess at the Lagos House, Marina, on Sunday, May 12, 2024

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu received the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, on Sunday.

The British Royal couple was received by Sanwo-Olu; his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, and some members of the State Executive Council during a courtesy visit at Lagos House, Marina.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile; and made available to PUNCH Online on Sunday.

Prince Harry, who was accompanied by his wife, Meghan, is on a three-day visit to Nigeria to promote the Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014. The couple had a stopover in Lagos on Sunday.

The Invictus Games are aimed at raising funds and supporting serving members of the military as well as veterans to overcome their physical and mental illnesses, which would help them to develop a sense of belonging and increased self-esteem.

Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting with the couple, Sanwo-Olu lauded them for the work they were doing with the nation’s military men, especially on issues around mental health.

He said, “We are honoured to receive them (Prince Harry and Meghan Markle) at the Lagos House, Marina. We are excited about the ideas and what they are planning to do, especially with the office of the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, and his wife, Mrs. Lilian Musa.

“For Prince Harry, it has been a very interesting and informative trip to the country. He has seen a lot. And part of the things we are hoping he will take away is the diversity and extent of how big our country is, how we continue to ensure that we live together in peace and harmony, and what role Lagos plays in the whole conversation.”

The Governor noted that while the couple had visited Kano State and the Federal Capital Territory, and now Lagos, “I’m sure they have their own experience of what Nigeria looks like. We have extended an additional invitation to them that they can always come back when they want to.”

Sanwo-Oli appreciated the couple for their work on mental health, saying, “Mental health issues are all around us. Denial and stigmatisation, are some of the things we talked about. And more importantly, at what point in Nigeria can we have the Invictus Games that Prince Harry is known for so that the true Nigerian competitiveness can also be reflected in those games?”