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.
