Prince Harry and Meghan, his wife, landed in Nigeria on Friday to advocate for the Invictus Games, an initiative he established to aid in the rehabilitation of wounded and ill service members and veterans. The duo arrived in Abuja, the capital, on Friday morning, marking their first visit to West Africa, following an invitation from the Nigerian Armed Forces.
According to a statement by Defence Spokesman Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, during their trip, Harry and Meghan plan to meet with injured soldiers and their families, with the aim of uplifting morale and well-being. Nigerian officials view this engagement as a significant opportunity for the recovery of Nigerian soldiers.
Prince Harry, a former Apache helicopter copilot gunner who served in Afghanistan, founded the Invictus Games in 2014. The games offer wounded veterans and service members the chance to compete in sporting events akin to the Paralympics. Nigeria participated in last year’s edition of the games.
While in Nigeria, the couple will attend basketball and volleyball matches and engage with local non-governmental organizations in Abuja and Lagos, which receive their support. Their spokesperson, Charlie Gipson, mentioned that Meghan will also co-host an event on women in leadership with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The Nigerian military has stressed the importance of the Invictus Games in aiding the recovery of numerous personnel who have been combating Boko Haram Islamic extremists and their factions since 2009.
According to the military’s sports director, Abidemi Marquis, “Eighty percent of our soldiers that have been involved in this recovery programme are getting better (and) their outlook on life is positive.
“The recovery programme has given them an opportunity to improve their personal self-esteem, to improve their mental health and emotional intelligence.”
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