Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, embarked on their inaugural visit to Nigeria on Friday to promote the Invictus Games, an event Prince Harry established to support the rehabilitation of wounded and sick service members and veterans worldwide, including Nigerian soldiers engaged in a 14-year battle against Islamic extremists.
Upon their arrival in Abuja, the capital city, early in the morning, the royal couple, at the invitation of Nigeria’s military, was welcomed by defense spokesman Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau.
Their itinerary includes meetings with injured soldiers and their families, aiming to boost morale and provide support for their well-being. Abidemi Marquis, the director of sports at Nigeria’s Defense Headquarters, emphasized the significance of the Invictus Games in facilitating the recovery of soldiers, highlighting its positive impact on personal self-esteem, mental health, and emotional well-being.
Prince Harry’s military service in Afghanistan inspired him to establish the Invictus Games in 2014, offering wounded veterans and service members the opportunity to compete in sports events akin to the Paralympics. Nigeria participated in last year’s edition of the games.
During their visit, the Duke and Duchess will attend basketball and volleyball matches and engage with local non-governmental organizations supported by them in Abuja and Lagos.
In addition to their involvement in sports-related activities, Meghan will co-host an event focusing on women in leadership alongside Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization.
The Nigerian military regards the Invictus Games as instrumental in the rehabilitation of personnel involved in combating Boko Haram insurgents since 2009. Marquis highlighted that 80% of soldiers engaged in the recovery program have shown significant improvement, benefiting from enhanced self-esteem, mental health, and emotional resilience.
