Nigeria's vibrant fashion and traditional dances were on full display as the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, arrived in Lagos.
Their three-day visit aimed to promote mental health for soldiers and empower young people. The couple, invited by the Nigerian military, were treated to various dance performances starting at Lagos airport, where troops showcased acrobatic moves that captivated onlookers. One young dancer, appearing to be under five years old, exchanged salutes with Prince Harry while perched on a colleague's shoulders.
Meghan complemented her white top with a traditional Nigerian "Aso Oke" fabric, a handwoven cloth often reserved for special occasions. During their visit, they stopped by a local charity, Giants of Africa, which uses basketball to empower youth. Here, they witnessed another round of dancing before announcing a new partnership between Giants of Africa and the Archewell Foundation. This visit was initially believed to promote the Invictus Games.
Interestingly, Meghan and Prince Harry are integrating their work with the Invictus Games with their other charitable efforts. They are now exploring the possibility of Nigeria hosting the Invictus Games, which would be a significant development for the country. During their visit, Masai Ujiri, the president and co-founder of Giants of Africa and the president and general manager of the Toronto Raptors, presented them with T-shirts. Notably, Ujiri had a connection with Meghan from her time living in Toronto.
Speculations have arisen about the true intentions behind the couple's visit. A source suggested that Nigeria is being considered as a potential host for future Invictus Games, and Meghan and Harry used this opportunity to secure VIP security and receptions under this pretense. Accompanying them was a Netflix film crew, adding to the media coverage of their visit.
There are rumors that the Invictus Foundation's board has no plans to hold the games in Nigeria due to safety concerns. Allegations have surfaced that Meghan and Harry misled both the Invictus Foundation and the Nigerian government, resulting in significant expenses covered by Nigeria, including security, travel, and hospitality costs. Critics argue that the funds spent could have been better utilized to support injured Nigerian soldiers, many of whom are in dire need.
Nigeria, a country with widespread poverty and high crime rates, has sparked debate over its suitability as a host for the Invictus Games. Some hope for a sc--dal that might force Prince Harry to step down from his role with the Invictus Games, potentially uncovering issues related to financial management or tax discrepancies within the charity.
