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ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) \u2014 Meghan<\/a><\/span><\/span>, the Duchess of Sussex, says it\u2019s been \u201chumbling\u201d to find out through a genealogy test that she is partly Nigerian as she met with women in the West African nation Saturday.<\/p>\n On her second day in Nigeria, where she is visiting for the first time with Prince Harry to also promote mental health<\/a> for wounded soldiers and young girls, Meghan acknowledged Nigeria as \u201cmy country.\u201d She added: \u201cIt\u2019s been eye-opening to be able to know more about my heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNever 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, \u2019Oh, we are not so surprised when we found out you are Nigerian,\u201d she said at the event on women in leadership co-hosted by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala<\/a><\/span><\/span>, a Nigerian economist and head of the World Trade Organization (WTO).<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a compliment to you because what they define as a Nigerian woman is brave, resilient, courageous, beautiful,\u201d Meghan told the audience.<\/p>\n The Duchess of Sussex had announced on her podcast in October 2022 that she found out through the DNA-based test that she was \u201c43% Nigerian.\u201d<\/p>\n Her first reaction after finding out was to tell her mother, she said at the event in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja. \u201cBeing African American, part of it is really not knowing so much about your lineage and background … and it was exciting for both of us,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Mo Abudu, the anchor and chief executive of EbonyLife media group, then asked the audience to suggest a Nigerian name for Meghan.<\/p>\n \u201cIfeoma,\u201d someone shouted from the excited crowd, a name from Nigeria\u2019s Igbo tribe which means \u2018a treasured thing.\u2019 \u201cOmowale\u201d another suggested, from the Yoruba tribe, which means \u2018the child has come home.\u2019<\/p>\n Meghan joined female industry leaders such as Okonjo-Iweala to discuss the importance of mentorship for young women and the career challenges women face in a country like Nigeria, where it is not common for women to be in top leadership and political positions.<\/p>\n Asked by the anchor about how she feels about becoming the first woman and first African to lead the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala said it was long overdue.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen I will feel right is when we stop saying, \u2018the first woman to do this \u2026 to do that\u2019. I have very mixed feelings about being the first woman because I think women should have been there already.\u201d She also spoke about mentors who have helped her career, including as Nigeria’s former finance minister.<\/p>\n One way to mentor young girls is by \u201creturning home\u201d to be closer to them, Meghan said, citing the case of Okonjo-Iweala as an example. “You need to come back home, you need to, at least, be a familiar face for the next generation to say, \u2018Oh she looks like me and I can be that\u2019,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n