Sussexes Visit Nigeria to Promote Invictus Games and Mental Health Awareness
Image Source: Britain’s Prince Harry (R), Duke of Sussex, and Britain’s Meghan (L), Duchess of Sussex, take part in activities as they arrive at the Lightway Academy in Abuja on May 10, 2024 as they visit Nigeria as part of celebrations of Invictus Games anniversary. PHOTO | AFP
ABUJA, Nigeria – May 11, 2024 – Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, embarked on a three-day visit to Nigeria on Friday. The trip highlights the Invictus Games, the sporting event Prince Harry founded for wounded veterans, and mental health awareness.
Warmly welcomed by a traditional dance group upon arrival in Abuja, the couple first visited the Lightway Academy. There, they participated in a mental health awareness event for students.
“If you take anything away from today, just know that mental health affects every single person,” Prince Harry addressed the cheering students, his words resonating beyond the classroom walls. “The more you talk about it, the more you can kick stigma away.”
Meghan, who has previously spoken about her own Nigerian heritage, added, “I see myself in all of you,” drawing enthusiastic applause.
Following the school visit, Prince Harry met with Nigerian military commanders to discuss the Invictus Games program. A veteran himself, he founded the games in 2014 to empower wounded service members through sports competition. Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, praised the program’s impact on Nigerian participants.
“Seeing them smile and seeing their faces – they thought the world had forgotten them, but I could see they were appreciated,” General Musa said, reflecting on his experience at the 2023 Invictus Games in Germany.
Later, Prince Harry traveled to a military hospital in Kaduna, northwest Nigeria. There, he met with soldiers wounded in combat, offering encouragement and solidarity. Many soldiers sustained gunshot wounds, amputations, or other injuries from ongoing conflicts.
“You are going to get better, get back on your feet,” Prince Harry assured the soldiers during his visit.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s schedule includes attending a seated volleyball tournament and witnessing sports training for Nigeria’s Invictus team. They will then travel to Lagos, Nigeria’s economic capital, on Sunday.
Nigeria’s Military Struggles
Nigeria’s armed forces face challenges on multiple fronts. The northeast is ravaged by a jihadist insurgency that has claimed over 40,000 lives and displaced millions since 2009. Additionally, heavily armed criminal gangs, known as bandits, terrorize northwestern and central states, targeting civilians for ransom and attacking villages.
Prince Harry and Meghan’s visit sheds light on the ongoing struggles faced by Nigerian troops while promoting mental health awareness and the positive impact of the Invictus Games.
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