Prince Harry and Meghan arrived in Abuja on Friday for a week-long private visit to Nigeria.
During their stay, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan will visit a non-governmental organisation (NGO), Light Academy, in Wuse in Abuja and the Nigerian Reference Army Hospital in Kaduna, where the wounded and injured soldiers are kept for their medical records.
Briefing journalists on Thursday in Abuja on the visit Royal couple, the Director of Defence Sports, Air Vice Marshal Marquis Abidemi, said that the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex was on the invitation extended to the royals by Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa.
Abidemi said that the couple would call on the governor of Kaduna State.
According to Abidemi, the visit of Prince Harry and Meghan could boost Nigeria’s chances of hosting the Invictus games.
“Invictus games relies upon sport to transform the lives of wounded soldiers and veterans.
”Nigeria is now a member of the Invictus community, so their coming will give credence to the fact that as a new part of the community, Nigeria needs to be accepted.
“That Nigeria is also looking forward to hosting an Invictus Games,” local media reports on Friday quoted Air Vice Marshal Abidemi as saying.
Speaking further on the visit, Abidemi said: “Prince Harry, being the visionary, will motivate the wounded and injured soldiers because to some of them, these are opportunities to see him and interact with him.”
He added that the event was a collaborative effort between the Defence Headquarters and Invictus Games Foundation to tap from their knowledge as 80 percent of the wounded soldiers “were involved in this recovery programme. They are getting better.”
“They are open to life and are positive. You know, when they engage in and you experience a permanent disability, such issues affect your mental health and also your attitude to life. But the recovery programme allows them to improve their personality to mental health and emotional intelligence.
“They have improved, their families are seeing them, they used to be breadwinners who are capable of continuing living.
“So this is giving us the opportunity for the recovery of our soldiers. Tomorrow, there will be a meeting between the CDS and the Duke where they are going to discuss extensively,” he added.
Abidemi explained that it is “what we need to do and also what they can do to help the wounded and injured community in Nigeria and the need to continue this collaborative effort.
“I know and I also want to put on record that the game that is coming up in Canada, CDS has approved the participation of Nigeria,” he said.
GIK/APA
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle in Abuja for private visit
