Save the Children U.K. CEO Gemma Sherrington called it “phenomenal” that the couple took time to meet with young people

Prince Harry (left) and Meghan Markle (right) pose with Save the Children Youth Ambassadors Purity and Maryam in Abuja, Nigeria, in May 2024. PHOTO:

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry made an under-the-radar charity visit during their recent trip to Nigeria.

On May 16, Save the Children U.K. revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 met with the nonprofit’s staff and two youth ambassadors in Abuja during their three-day tour last week. The event was facilitated and chaired by photographer Misan Harriman, a global ambassador for Save the Children. Harriman is a friend of the couple and photographed their trip to Nigeria, where he was born.

Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, posed for photos with Save the Children staff, Harriman and Youth Ambassadors Maryam and Purity during the meeting, where they learned more about the charity’s ongoing work in Nigeria. Maryam, 23, and Purity, 19, told the Duke and Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 about their efforts to address a slew of issues, including child marriage, gender-based violence, access to education and healthcare and the plight of displaced children.

Prince Harry (left) and Meghan Markle (right) pose with Save the Children Youth Ambassadors Purity and Maryam in Abuja, Nigeria, in May 2024.

MUSA PEM/SAVE THE CHILDREN

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“This charity recognizes the importance of having young people’s voice at the forefront, not just as advocates, but as decision-makers. And that is absolutely crucial, because you know better than anybody else what is going on, what are the conversations are that are happening but also it’s your future,” Prince Harry said in a video shared to Instagram by the organization.

“We won’t stop, every one of us. Every one of us has a role to play through our advocacy, our voices, our financial support, volunteering. So we hope to see a positive change and a better future for Nigeria,” Purity added.

According to statistics from Save the Children, one in 10 children in Nigeria dies before they turn 5, three in 10 girls are married by age 18 and 10 million kids are out of school. The statement explained that Nigeria also has one of the highest rates of “zero dose children,” who have never received a routine vaccine. During the stop, Prince Harry and Meghan learned more about Save the Children’s new partnership with British pharmaceutical company GSK to help solve the problem through new immunization programs, funding to support local organizations and youth-led advocacy.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for a group photo with Save the Children staff, Youth Ambassadors and Global Ambassador Misan Harriman in Abuja, Nigeria, in May 2024.

MUSA PEM/SAVE THE CHILDREN

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Connecting back to the couple’s advocacy around greater global vaccine access, Save the Children U.K. CEO Gemma Sherrington said in a statement, “We were thrilled to share information about this innovative partnership with Duke and Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 in light of their long-standing interest in vaccine equity.”

“We’re honored that the Duke and Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 took time out of their busy schedule in Nigeria to learn about the work Save the Children does, alongside our youth advocates and partners, to ensure children don’t just survive but thrive,” Sherrington said. “Child Champions and Youth Ambassadors are the beating heart of our work in Nigeria so for two of them to have this opportunity to speak with Prince Harry and Meghan, and to shine a spotlight on their tireless advocacy to protect the rights of children, is phenomenal.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Lightway Academy in Abuja, Nigeria, on May 10, 2024.

ANDREW ESIEBO/GETTY

The Duke and Duchess of Sus𝓈ℯ𝓍 have partnered with Save the Children before, releasing a sweet video of Meghan reading the picture book Duck! Rabbit! for son Prince Archie’s first birthday in 2020 in collaboration with the organization’s #SaveWithStories campaign, launched to help kids adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Prince Harry and Meghan’s Archewell Foundation donated funds to the charity for the humanitarian flood response in Nigeria.

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Harry and Meghan hit the ground running when they arrived in Nigeria on May 10, in a visit significant as their first international tour since stepping back from their royal roles in 2020. The whirlwind tour championed the Archewell Foundation’s mental health initiatives for young people and Prince Harry’s Invictus Games, which Nigeria participated in for the first time last year. Throughout the trip, Meghan also spoke about feeling a connection to the country after discovering that she is 43% Nigerian.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at State Governor House in Lagos, Nigeria, on May 12, 2024.

KOLA SULAIMON/AFP VIA GETTY

Speaking with PEOPLE on the tour, Prince Harry says, “These trips are about us being able to go out and go and focus on the things that mean so much to us. And being able to be on the ground, to us, is what it’s all about.”

“It’s really meaningful. Just being able to connect to people… that’s what makes it special,” Meghan tells PEOPLE.