The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and Meghan have arrived in Nigeria for a three-day inaugural visit to Nigeria on Friday to champion the Invictus Games, an initiative he established to support the rehabilitation of wounded and sick service members and veterans, including Nigerian soldiers involved in a 14-year conflict against Islamic extremists.
This is their first trip to the country as a couple, and it comes after Prince Harry concluded a brief visit to London.
Prince Harry and Meghan were invited by Nigeria’s chief of defense staff, General Christopher Musa, and will meet injured service personnel.
Their itinerary includes meetings with wounded soldiers and their families, with the objective of uplifting morale and enhancing well-being. Nigerian officials have lauded this engagement as a significant opportunity for the recovery of Nigerian soldiers.
Abidemi Marquis, Director of Sports at Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, expressed optimism about the impact of the Invictus Games on the rehabilitation efforts, stating, “This engagement with Invictus is giving us the opportunity for the recovery of our soldiers” during a press briefing on Thursday.
Prince Harry, who served as an Apache helicopter copilot gunner in Afghanistan, founded the Invictus Games in 2014 to provide wounded veterans and service members with the opportunity to compete in sports like the Paralympics.
During their stay, the royal couple is set to attend basketball and volleyball matches and engage with local non-governmental organizations in Abuja and Lagos that benefit from their support.
Meghan will co-host an event on women in leadership with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization, according to their spokesman Charlie Gipson.
The news of Meghan’s visit has sparked enthusiasm among Nigerians who closely follow her life and her association with the British royal family.
The Nigerian military has underscored the importance of the Invictus Games in aiding the recovery of personnel engaged in 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 program are getting better, and their outlook on life is positive. The recovery program has allowed them to improve their self-esteem, to improve their mental health and emotional intelligence.”
