Prince Edward has arrived in Nigeria to begin a nine-day visit
to West Africa, aimed at strengthening the UK’s relationships with
both Commonwealth nations and championing the role of young people,
education and sport in international cooperation.
The Duke of Edinburgh landed in Abuja on Monday, where he will
met the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed
Tinubu, before travelling to Lagos to take part in The Duke of
Edinburgh’s International Award Gold Event and Forum. Hosted by the
International Award for Young People Nigeria, the Forum brings
together almost 200 young delegates from more than 50 countries, as
well as global leaders delivering the Award. The Duke will deliver
the keynote address.
During his time in Lagos, His Royal Highness will visit a girls’
secondary school to hear pupils’ experiences of the Award
programme, which emphasises skills acquired beyond the classroom –
including teamwork, resilience, communication and
problem-solving.
Later in the week, the Duke will travel on to Ghana. His visit
will begin at Aburi Education College and its Kindergarten Schools,
observing trainee teachers using play-based learning methods and
joining a classroom lesson.
At Aburi Botanical Gardens, His Royal Highness will receive an
overview of UK–Ghana collaboration on sustainable development. He
will plant a tree near a Silver Oak planted by The King, as Prince
of Wales, and a Mahogany planted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1961.
The Duke will also meet young entrepreneurs involved in the
Commonwealth Start-Up Fellowship at the Affinity Bank Training
Centre, before attending an event hosted by the British High
Commission to watch a performance of Kofi Adinkra’s The Black
Star (The Teacher of Africa) and take part in a discussion on
theatre collaboration between the UK and Ghana.
A wreath-laying at the tombs of Ghana’s first Prime Minister and
President, Kwame Nkrumah, and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah, will follow
at the Kwame Nkrumah National Museum.
His Royal Highness will then meet Ghanaian President John
Dramani Mahama and traditional leaders at Jubilee House, joining
them for a cultural performance.
Sport will play a prominent role in the latter part of the visit
ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The Duke will meet
Ghana’s women’s basketball team during a practice session and
retired boxing legend Azumah “Zoom Zoom” Nelson, alongside the
national boxing team, at the Accra Sports Stadium. He will also
observe a bowls and parabowls demonstration following the formation
of the Ghana Bowls Federation earlier this year.
The tour will conclude at His Majesty The King’s Birthday
Reception, where the Duke will join invited guests and cut the
traditional cake.
Members of the Royal Family have visited Ghana and Nigeria 15
and 13 times respectively since 1952. The Duke last visited Nigeria
in 2020 and has previously visited Ghana in 2018, 2016, 2004 and
during a wider tour of West Africa in 1993.
