Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have arrived in Nigeria to support the Invictus Games by helping wounded veterans, including Nigerian soldiers who have been fighting extremists for 14 years, British media reported.
The royal couple arrived in Abuja in the early hours of Friday May 10, defence ministry spokesman Brigadier General Tukur Gusau said.
Harry and Meghan will meet with wounded soldiers and their families in what Nigerian officials said was a show of support aimed at boosting the morale and well-being of soldiers. Abidemi Marquis, the director of sports at Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, told reporters on Thursday:
“This engagement with Invictus is giving us the opportunity for the recovery of our soldiers.”Â
Harry served in Afghanistan as a second Apache helicopter gunner before founding Invictus Games in 2014 to offer wounded veterans and military personnel the opportunity to take part in sporting competitions similar to the Paralympic Games.
During their stay, they will attend basketball and volleyball matches and meet with local non-governmental organisations in Abuja and Lagos that receive support from them.
According to spokesman Charlie Gipson, Meghan will host an event celebrating women leaders alongside Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director general of the World Trade Organisation.
The Nigerian military has extolled the Invictus Games as an event that could help rebuild the thousands of troops fighting Islamic extremists Boko Haram and their groups since 2009, when they launched an insurgency.
Marquis, the military’s sports director, said:
“Eighty percent of our soldiers that have been involved in this recovery program are getting better (and) their outlook to life is positive. The recovery program has given them an opportunity to improve their personal self-esteem, to improve their mental health and emotional intelligence.”
