‘Talking about mental health removes stigma,’ says Prince Harry

A few Nigerian students were informed by Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, that the more people talk about mental health, the more stigma will be overcome. He stated this today in Abuja.

As part of his promotion of the Invictus Games, Prince Harry traveled to Nigeria today, Friday, with his spouse Meghan Markle.

Harry developed the Invictus Games, a sporting competition for injured veterans of the armed forces.

The pair traveled to the Nigerian city of Abuja on Friday, where they opened a mental health program for pupils at a local school.

A drum and dance group from the Igbo ethnic group enthusiastically welcomed Prince Harry and Meghan as they toured the Lightway Academy, where students welcomed them.

Mental health

Speaking to students, Harry, wearing a traditional Nigerian bead necklace around his neck, said: “If you take anything away from today, just know that mental health affects every single person.

“The more you talk about it the more you can kick stigma away.”

Also, Meghan joined the Duke of Sussex on the stage. Then they left for a meeting with Nigerian military commanders as part of the Invictus programme.

Students’ reaction

Reacting, a student Nnena Edeh, 13, as the prince left the school, said: “It was really cool. I just wanted to touch him. It was really inspiring.”

Earlier, Prince Harry was in London on Wednesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the games.

Notably, as with all his trips to the UK since he moved to the United States in 2020, his visit prompted fresh speculation over a reconciliation with his family.

Invictus

Harry, a former army captain who served as a helicopter pilot in Afghanistan, founded Invictus in 2014. Since then the games have expanded, boosting rehabilitation through sports.

Last year, former Nigerian soldier Peacemaker Azuegbulam, who lost his leg in combat, became the first African to win a gold at the games in Germany.

Itinerary

Also, Nigeria’s military said on Thursday that Harry would take part in a sporting event in the capital.

And he will travel to Kaduna in Nigeria’s northwest to visit a military hospital and speak with troops wounded in combat.

Furthermore, he would later travel to the country’s economic capital Lagos.

Recall that Nigeria’s military forces are battling armed groups on several fronts.

A grinding jihadist insurgency in the country’s northeast has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced another 2 million more since 2009.

In northwestern and central states, heavily armed criminal gangs known locally as bandits carry out mass kidnappings for ransom. They also raid villages from camps hidden deep in remote forests.

Meanwhile, below are more photos, by Kola SULAIMON / AFP, from the event: