Meghan Markle and Prince Harry commenced their inaugural engagement in Nigeria with a significant visit to a local school.
On Friday, May 10, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, in collaboration with the GEANCO Foundation, which offers vital healthcare and educational services in Nigeria, paid a visit to the Lightway Academy. This visit followed their arrival in Abuja earlier in the day.
Upon their arrival at the school, Meghan, 42, and Harry, 39, were warmly welcomed with embraces and a vibrant banner adorned with flowers bearing the message, “We Are Honored To Have You!” Additionally, they were treated to a captivating performance by local singers and dancers. Showing her appreciation for one of the performers who executed a backflip, Meghan exclaimed, “Bravo!”
or the outing, the Duchess of Sussex donned a peach-colored maxi dress designed by Heidi Merrick, complemented with Emma Parsons sandals and vintage earrings. Meanwhile, Harry opted for a coordinated beige shirt and trousers ensemble. As part of their reception, the couple were gifted wooden beaded necklaces.
Throughout their visit, Meghan and Harry engaged with school officials and interacted with the children. They also took part in delivering speeches during the inaugural mental health summit organized by the GEANCO Foundation at the Lightway Academy.
“In part,” the Duke of Sussex conveyed, “There’s no shame in admitting that today might be a difficult day, alright? Whether you woke up feeling down, experienced stress at school, or are grieving the loss of a loved one in your family without knowing where to turn or who to confide in. You might even feel like these are topics not up for discussion.”
Harry emphasized, “We’re here today to assure you that this simply isn’t true.”
Delivering her own remarks, Meghan continued, “We are honored to have our first visit to Nigeria be here with all of you. We believe in you, we believe in your teachers and we believe in your ability to continue to tell your stories and to just be honest with each other. There is no need to suffer in silence.”
“Make sure you are taking care of yourselves, and that begins with mental health, by really talking about whatever’s coming up for you,” Meghan added.
After being greeted by the CEO of GEANCO, the couple then met with school founder Oprah Adi, 75, and her daughter Joyce Agbese, who is the director of the 200-student school.
Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the event on Friday, Agbese said, “Mental health is a very important issue and it’s not talked about enough in Nigeria, so when people that are experts in that regard come here and talk about it — sometimes messages coming from strangers sinks in better with children than those they hear about every day.”
“I believe it’s really something they’ve been looking forward for a long time,” she added. “And the Duchess has a bit of Nigerian heritage, so it will be good for her to see some of her roots and imbibe some of the vibrancy that Nigerians have. It’s in the air. It’s contagious.”
Meghan and Harry also made their way into classrooms within the school, where they shared insights into their children Prince Archie, aged 5, and 2-year-old Princess Lilibet’s favorite pastimes.
During their visit to a kindergarten class, where young children delighted them with dance and song, a 2-year-old girl bravely approached Meghan and shook her hand. However, she hesitated when it came to Harry. “We all feel a bit shy sometimes,” Meghan reassured her.
Meeting the eldest child in the class, who is five, Meghan mentioned, “Our son Archie just turned five last week.”
In no time, the couple joined in a spirited rendition of “jump up, turn around” with the children.
For more trending news,visit..lagosstate.com
