He’s better known for speaking the Queen’s English but the Prince of Wales on Wednesday turned to pidgin as he visited Nigeria’s commercial capital.
“How you dey? (How are you?)” he asked assembled dignitaries, including former heads of state, presidential candidates, leading politicians, and stars from the world of fashion, music and the arts.
Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest son and heir, who turns 70 this month and winds up a tour of The Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria on Thursday, said he was pleased to be back in “Lasgidi” (Lagos).
“I find it hard to believe that nearly 30 years have passed since I first came to this city,” he added in a speech at the British Deputy High Commissioner’s residence.
“As they say, ‘God don butta my bread’ (God has blessed me),” he said, praising the city for its dynamism and energy.
Lagos — home to more than 20 million people and driver of the economy of Africa’s most populous nation — is a hub of innovation and industry.
Charles, whose Prince’s Trust has helped launch the careers of hundreds of thousands of young entrepreneurs, said both shared the same spirit of imagination and ingenuity.
“If life dey show you pepper, make pepper soup,” he said, which roughly translates to “life is what you make it”.
The Prince of Wales who is on a three-day business and cultural tour of Nigeria with his wife, Camilla also toured the Naval Dockyard in Victoria Island where he was received by the chief of naval staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas.
After being ceremonially received by the naval chief, The Prince of Wales was taken on a tour around Lagos waters on the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) EKULU.
The prince was piped on-board by the commanding officer of NNS EKULU, Commander Andrew Zidon.
Speaking with journalists after the departure of the Prince, Ibas said that the visit was an encouragement for the navy.
“The Nigerian Navy is an offshoot of the Royal Navy and he is also here to see by himself the progress being made with the cooperative support the royal navy has been giving Nigeria,” he said.
Prince Charles had earlier arrived Lagos aboard a B737 aircraft with registration number CS-TFY, which landed at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport at 12.08 pm
He was received by the deputy governor of Lagos State, Mrs Idiat Adebule, officials of the United Kingdom Consulate and security chiefs.
The prince’s three-day business and cultural tour of Nigeria is also to mark the 75th Anniversary of the British Council in Nigeria.
Charles had arrived Nigeria on Tuesday alongside his wife, Camilla, and were received by President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja.
The prince also met with notable traditional rulers as part of efforts to build peace in the Middle Belt and other parts of the country.
AFP/NAN
