Nigerians are looking forward to their “daughter” Meghan Markle’s royal visit next month with Prince Harry. Social media is vibrating with enthusiasm, with several users claiming they were “overwhelmed with joy” and promising a vibrant party upon arrival.
Meghan announced in 2022 that she is “43 percent Nigerian” after years of genealogy research, as reported by the Daily Mail. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are scheduled to visit Nigeria following an invitation from the country’s chief of defense staff.
The invitation follows a meeting between Prince Harry and the chief of defense staff at the Invictus Games in Dusseldorf last September.
Daniel Egwu, a resident of Enugu, Nigeria, expressed his joy on X: “I’m excited about this news! Our beloved sister, Meghan, and our brother-in-law, Harry are welcome to Nigeria!”
Another X user wrote: “Harry and Meghan are coming to Nigeria in May! We cannot wait to welcome them! And our good sis is coming home for the first time. We have been waiting since she discovered she’s a daughter of the soil.”
And a third said: “Meghan is coming to Nigeria with Prince Harry? Our 43 percent Nigerian sister? Ah! It’s about to be a celebration! We are about to show off!”
Prince Harry will initially attend the Invictus Games’ tenth anniversary event on May 8 at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, with Meghan not likely to accompany him. The couple will go to Nigeria to meet with service members, families, and participate in cultural events.
The Invictus Games, founded for injured and sick service personnel and veterans, provide a poignant background for their visit. Additional information on the trip is not yet available.
Prince Harry mentioned Meghan’s Nigerian roots at the opening ceremony of the Dusseldorf Invictus Games last September. This mention corresponded with Nigeria’s first participation in the event, alongside Colombia and Israel.
“We’re really excited to have new nations join us. Let’s hear it for Colombia, Israel, and Nigeria,” Harry told the crowd at the Merkur Spiel-Arena.
“Now, I’m not saying we play favorites in our home, but since my wife discovered she is of Nigerian descent, it’s likely to get a little bit more competitive this year!”
Meghan lovingly embraced a competitor at the event, hailing her as “my Nigerian sister,” and subsequently met other team members and the defense head, who gave her the nickname “Amira Ngozi Lolo.”
The appellation, borrowed from Nigerian tradition, represents a warrior princess (‘Amira’), blessed (‘Ngozi’), and of regal stature (‘Lolo’), and authorization was obtained for its usage during her visits to the country.
Derek Cobbinah, who managed Nigeria’s debut in the 2023 competition, told Hello! magazine at the time that Meghan was very moved by the nickname given on her.
He also stated that he had indicated her intention to arrange a family trip to Nigeria.