Insider reveals the moment Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Nigeria tour idea was born

Weeks after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle wrapped up their successful Nigeria tour, the man who helped inspire it has come forward to share incredible behind-the-scenes details.Afam Onyema accompanied the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on their whirlwind tour after reaching out to Meghan when she revealed her Nigerian heritage on her podcast in October 2022."I'm like, 'Oh, this is it! We have got to let her know about what we're doing,'" Onyema told Vanity Fair.READ MORE: Kate's absence at Trooping the Colour may inspire big change"She had mentioned wanting to get to know her roots, so I thought, 'Well, we're based here in LA, we're doing work in Nigeria, and we have friends in common.'"Onyema had known of the royal duo and their philanthropic work for years and had been hoping for a chance to get them on board with the GEANCO Foundation, which he heads up.The philanthropic organisation is dedicated to "saving and transforming lives in Africa" through medical missions, women's and girls' projects, supporting local schools, healthcare programs and more.Actor David Oyelowo was already working with the organisation and was a good friend to Onyema, so Onyema asked Oyelowo to connect him with Meghan.She was clearly eager to get involved, because less than two years later she and Harry touched down in Nigeria with Onyema for their first big international tour since quitting the monarchy.For a daily dose of 9honey, subscribe to our newsletter here.The duchess embraced Nigerian locals and culture with open arms, donning a traditional Nigerian aso oke for one outing and telling well-wishers she felt like she had come home."It's been eye-opening to be able to know more about my heritage," Meghan told locals about her connection to Nigeria. "Never in a million years would I understand it as much as I do now. And what has been echoed so much in the past day is, 'Oh, we are not so surprised when we found out you are Nigerian'. "It is a compliment to you because what they define as a Nigerian woman is brave, resilient, courageous, beautiful."READ MORE: 'Bells rang' after model noticed strange symptomsWhile her connection to the country was a big focus for the trip, Harry worked quietly to promote both the Invictus Games and vital mental health causes, both of which are close to his heart.Onyema told Vanity Fair that the prince gave a raw speech about his own mental struggles during a visit to Lightway Academy, where he met with teens learning to how deal with their own emotions."He inspired those kids to open up and realise it's okay to not be okay," Onyema said, adding that "it's not just a photo op, or doing this one time. They really want to dig in and make this an ongoing part of their work."The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will help provide ongoing support to Nigerian teens by partnering with the GEANCO Foundation to offer mental health services for students at the Lightway Academy in Abuja.READ MORE: New Macca's deal gets you a full meal for $7Onyema added that Harry's speech made a lasting impact on the teens present, many of whom are still asking questions and discussing the mental health topics he raised last month.This is the second time the royals have partnered with the GEANCO Foundation through their own Archewell Foundation; last year they backed a period poverty project that provided menstrual products and school supplies to 2,500 Nigerian girls.FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.