The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, are set to embark on a private three-day visit to Nigeria, commencing on Friday, May 10.
The royal couple’s visit comes at the invitation of General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff.
Air Vice Marshal Abidemi Marquis, the Director of Sports at the Defence Headquarters, announced that the couple’s visit, spanning from May 10 to May 13, 2024, is aimed at supporting the Invictus Games’ recovery program for wounded soldiers and their families.
The program has been instrumental in enhancing the soldiers’ mental health, self-esteem, and overall outlook on life.
Marquis emphasized the significance of the visit, noting that it reinforces the Nigerian Armed Forces’ esteemed position within the Invictus community and could pave the way for Nigeria to host future Invictus Games events.
The visit will also spotlight the need for advanced facilities to manage post-traumatic stress disorders among soldiers affected by counter-insurgency operations.
The royal couple’s itinerary includes stops in Kaduna and Lagos, where they will engage with state governors.
Upon arrival, Prince Harry and Meghan will be welcomed discreetly, considering their lengthy travel, and will rest at a hotel before meeting with the Chief of Defence Staff the following noon.
“They have their own NGO they are supporting somewhere in Wuse Light Academy. They are going to visit that place” the director said.
“They will be proceeding to Kaduna to visit the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital. You know, that is where our wounded and injured soldiers are kept for their medical recovery. He will be going there.
“On Saturday, we’ll be having something like an exhibition of novelty matches. The CDS team and the Duke team will be having a volleyball match at armed forces officers’ mess in the morning. And this is just to engage with the wounded and injured soldiers. It’s a sitting volleyball match coming in the morning.
“So after that, we have a programme for them, 01:00 p.m. A reception, where they will be interacting with families of wounded and injured soldiers and families of soldiers and officers killed in action and service members generally. The program will start at 01:00 p.m. On Saturday thereafter, they will go back to the hotel to rest.
“So on Sunday, we have a program in Lagos. They will pay a courtesy call to the governor of Lagos State, and they also have an NGO. They are supporting Lagos over time, and we are going there. They built a basketball court for the school in Lagos. So they will be going there also. And there will be a basketball exhibition Match, 20 minutes, 30 minutes will be played.
“From there, they proceed to the governor’s place. After that, there is a reception also for them in Lagos. And when we finish that, we come back to Abuja, and they’ll be leaving Nigeria on Monday morning.”
