Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Send School Supplies to Nigeria After Supporting the Nation at Invictus Games

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are preparing students in Nigeria for a successful school year.

On Tuesday, the Archewell Foundation of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced a donation of school supplies and menstrual products to young women in Nigeria in partnership with the GEANCO Foundation.

“As students around the world returned to school this month, the Archewell Foundation supported girls’ education and health by sending school supplies and menstrual products to young schoolgirls in Nigeria with the GEANCO Foundation,” said a statement on their website.

“GEANCO provides critical health and education services in Nigeria. His David Oyelowo Leadership Scholarship provides full tuition, medical care and social and emotional support to young women victims of terrorism and gender inequality in Nigeria,” it continued.

The Archewell Foundation’s support will also provide menstrual health education to 2,500 girls across the sites where GEANCO serves, supporting the wellbeing of young women at school.

Meghan Markle waves Nigerian flag at Invictus Games: Here’s why

In a behind-the-scenes look, the GEANCO Foundation also released photos showing the team filling backpacks with classroom supplies and feminine hygiene products. The statement said Afam Onyema, CEO of GEANCO, joined Archewell staff to pack the book bags.

The Instagram carousel opened with a shot of a young woman smiling with a backpack and a water bottle in front of a homemade banner, which rolled to shots of other young girls checking out new gear and posing with backpacks on their shoulders.

“We are honored to partner with the Archewell Foundation on an exciting back to school project for girls in Nigeria!! They generously donated backpacks full of much-needed school supplies and feminine hygiene products to our David Oyelowo Leadership Scholars! This incredibly thoughtful gift will equip and empower our girls this school year with confidence and joy!!❤️,” the caption reads.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for a photo with members of Team Nigeria at the 2023 Invictus Games.

Chris Jackson/Getty

Nigeria recently made its debut at Prince Harry’s 2023 Invictus Games, which welcomed 21 nations and 500 athletes to Düsseldorf, Germany from September 9-16. The Duke of Sussex, a former British Army captain, launched the International Adaptive Sports Competition for Wounded, Injured and Ill Personnel and Veterans in 2014 to enhance the transformative power of sport for those who have served.

While Prince Harry, 39, stayed neutral at the sixth iteration of the Invictus Games as founding patron, his wife showed her support for the Nigerian team — which Harry revealed in his opening speech!

Meghan Markle gets new nickname meaning ‘Royal Wife’ from Team Nigeria at Invictus Games

“Now, I’m not saying we’re playing favorites in our home, but since my wife discovered that she’s of Nigerian descent, it’s probably going to be a bit more competitive this year,” he joked at the opening ceremony. Last fall, the Duchess of Sussex revealed on her podcast Archetypes that she found out that she is 43% Nigerian through a genealogy test.

On Meghan’s first day watching sporting events at the Invictus Games (she joined Harry a few days after the tournament began), she and her husband spent time with the Nigerian team. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex posed for a photo with members of the squad holding their national flag on September 13. According to Hello!, athletes presented the couple with a Chief of Defense plaque — plus a new nickname for Meghan!

Meghan Markle meets athletes from the Nigerian team at the 2023 Invictus Games.

Chris Jackson/Getty

According to the release, she was named “Amira Ngozi Lolo.” Amira is the name of a warrior princess from legend, while Ngozi means “blessed” and Lolo means “royal wife”.

The following day, the Duchess of Sussex, 42, waved the Nigerian flag from her seat in the stands as Nigeria took on Ukraine in a sitting volleyball game. Meghan and Prince Harry enthusiastically followed the action at the Merkur Spiel Arena and smiled for selfies with fellow attendees cheering on the Nigerian team.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle smile at the 2023 Invictus Games.

Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation

While the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s latest charity Archewell Foundation is aimed at supporting students in Nigeria, the couple have already paid it forward with care packages for other charities.

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in August 2020, the couple came out to Los Angeles to participate in an event with Baby2Baby, a national non-profit organization based in LA. They helped distribute school supplies, books, backpacks, clothes, food, hygiene items and more to the needy while the children were preparing for the new school year.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex wore masks and gloves as they surprised recipients in their cars. At one point, Meghan knelt down to help put on a backpack for the boy as Prince Harry crouched down to take a look.

I can’t get enough PEOPLERoyals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to receive the latest news on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

It also wasn’t the first time Meghan and Prince Harry supported the LA-based organization. In April 2019, just before they welcomed their son, Prince Archie, they thanked fans via their Instagram page for a virtual “baby shower” to encourage charitable donations to celebrate Baby Sussex. They also made four suggestions of charities if people still wanted to get involved, including Baby2Baby.

Founders and co-presidents Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof had no idea they were on the royal family’s radar — they found out, as did the rest of the world, when an Instagram post went live.

“We were overwhelmed and blown away by the support,” Weinstein told PEOPLE at the time. “We believe the fact that the Duchess is from Los Angeles prompted her to highlight LA, where Baby2Baby is based. We felt especially grateful that she highlighted the American organization.”

Prince Harry and Meghan moved to Meghan’s home state of California after stepping down from their royal roles in 2020 and went on to welcome daughter Princess Lilibet in June 2021.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education