The International Award for Young People Nigeria is honoured to announce that HRH, Prince Edward Chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation has been named as the new Duke of Edinburgh, as announced by Buckingham Palace.
His Majesty The King has been pleased to confer the Dukedom of Edinburgh upon The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Forfar, on the occasion of His Royal Highness’s 59th birthday. The title will be held by Prince Edward for His Royal Highness’s lifetime.
The Dukedom was last created for Prince Philip in 1947, upon his marriage to Princess Elizabeth, who held the title of Duchess of Edinburgh before acceding to the throne in 1952.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “The new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are proud to continue Prince Philip’s legacy of promoting opportunities for young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential”.
As part of his commitment to young people in Nigeria, His Royal Highness, The Prince Edward visited Nigeria for 3 Days from, the 4th to the 6th of February 2020. The visit was aimed majorly amongst other things to raise the profile of the Award in Nigeria through engagements with policymakers and stakeholders both in the public and private sectors.
His Royal Highness is especially passionate about organizations and causes which provide opportunities to young people in Nigeria and around the world.
A Gold Award holder himself, he is also a Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh Award – United Kingdom and has previously Chaired the International Council for 17 years.
We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to His Royal Highness, as he continues his late father’s legacy.
Notes to Editors
His Royal Highness was created Earl of Wessex in 1999, on the occasion of his marriage to Miss
Sophie Rhys-Jones.
In 2019, Queen Elizabeth II granted The Earl of Wessex the additional title of Earl of Forfar, on the
occasion of His Royal Highness’s 55th birthday
About The Dukedom of Edinburgh
The Dukedom has previously been created four times for Members of the Royal Family:
- 1726 – Prince Frederick, eldest son of King George II
- 1764 – Prince William, brother of King George III, as part of the joint title, The Duke of
Gloucester and Edinburgh - 1866 – Prince Alfred, second son of Queen Victoria
- 1947 – Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II
About The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award known in Nigeria as The International Award for Young People Nigeria.
- The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a global, non-formal education and learning framework which challenges young people to develop new skills, get physically active, learn about teamwork and leadership through Adventurous Journey and volunteer within their community.
- It was founded by HRH The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, in conjunction with German educationalist Kurt Hahn.
- It is known by a range of different names around the world – including The President’s Award in Kenya, DofE in the UK, The International Award for Young People in India, Mednarodno priznanje za mlade (MEPI) in Slovenia and The International Award for Young People in Nigeria.
- There are currently more than a million young people completing their own unique Award programme, via hundreds of thousands of youth-focused partners and operators, including schools, youth organisations, examination boards and youth offenders’ institutions.
- The Award is delivered around the world by schools, colleges, universities, employers, social clubs, uniformed and non-uniformed youth organisations, young offenders’ institutions, religious organisations, sports clubs, and a whole host of other civic organisations.
- From running as an established programme in a blind boys’ academy in India, to the introduction into youth organisations in Israel; the Award’s framework can support and thrive in a multitude of different environments.
- Since its launch over 60 years ago, millions of young people have participated and received Awards, with millions more benefitting from its impact in communities around the world.
- Since the reintroduction of the Award in 2014, over 43,000 young people have participated and the Award operates in more than 12 states and the FCT.
- HRH The Duke of Edinburgh Earl of Forfar is Chairman of the Board of Trustees for The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation.