ABUJA, Nigeria – ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, arrived in Nigeria on Friday to defend the Invictus Games, which he founded to help rehabilitate injured and ill military personnel and veterans, including Nigerian soldiers fighting against a group of 14 years old. war against Islamic extremists.
The couple, who visited the West African country for the first time at the invitation of its military, arrived in the capital, Abuja, early in the morning, according to defense spokesman Brig. General Tukur Gusau.
Harry and Meghan will meet with injured soldiers and their families in what Nigerian officials said was a show of support to improve soldiers’ morale and well-being.
“This involvement with Invictus is giving us the opportunity to recover our soldiers,” Abidemi Marquis, director of sports at the Nigerian Defense Headquarters, told journalists on Thursday.
Harry served in Afghanistan as a co-pilot gunner on an Apache helicopter, after which he founded the Invictus Games in 2014 to offer veterans and injured military personnel the challenge of competing in sporting events similar to the Paralympic Games. Nigeria was among the nations that participated in last year’s edition of the games.
During their stay, they will attend basketball and volleyball games and meet with local non-governmental organizations in Abuja and Lagos that receive their support. Meghan will also co-host an event on women in leadership with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization, according to her spokesperson Charlie Gipson.
News of Meghan’s visit excited some in Nigeria, where her life – and her association with the British royal family – are closely watched.
The Nigerian military has touted the Invictus Games as something that could help the recovery of thousands of its military personnel who have been fighting local Islamic extremists Boko Haram and its factions since 2009, when they launched an insurgency.
“Eighty percent of our soldiers who were involved in this recovery program are improving (and) their outlook on life is positive,” said Marquis, military sports director.
“The recovery program gave them the opportunity to improve their personal self-esteem, improve their mental health and emotional intelligence.”
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