By Micheal Chukwuebuka, Reporting
PRINCE Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will arrive Nigeria on Friday, May 10, 2024, for a 3-day private visit.
Director of Sports, Defense Headquarters (DHQ), Air Vice Marshal Abidemi Marquis, on Thursday, disclosed this to the public.
Marquis said the Duke and Duchess’ visit, scheduled from 10th to 13th May 2024, will help the wounded soldiers in their recovery efforts.
“We realized that 80% of our soldiers have been involved in this recovery programme, are getting better.
“Their outlook to life is positive. The visit will aid their recovery to improve their personal self-esteem to improve their mental health.
“Their emotional intelligence has been improved and also their families seeing them, as they used to be breadwinners who is capable of continue living.
“So this engagement with Invictus is giving us the opportunity for the recovery for our soldiers,” AVM Marquis said.
He further stated that beita member of the Invictus community, the visit will lay credence to the acceptance of the Nigerian Armed Forces, adding that the visit has become essential to Nigeria’s plan to hosting an Invictus game.
Stonix News confirmed that the couple will visit Kaduna and Lagos states where they will also interact with the governors of the states.
“So, to be specific, now, they will be arriving here tomorrow and they will be received, and the reception will be a quiet reception because they will be traveling 14 hours to get to this place. They will be taken to the hotel.
“After resting at the hotel, the couple will return to visit Chief of Defense Staff by 12 noon on Friday,” Marquis said.
The Director added that Prince Harry and wife would visit the Wuse Light Academy, an institution being supported by their non-governmental organization before seeing the Nigeria’s security chief.
Subsequently, they will proceed to Kaduna State to visit the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital where the wounded and injured soldiers are kept for their medical recovery.
“On Saturday, we’ll be having like an exhibition of novelty match. 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 by 1:00pm. A reception, where they will be interacting with families of wounded and injured soldiers and officers killed in action and service members generally,” AVM Marquis said.
On Sunday, according to Marquis, the couple will pay a courtesy visit on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, and also visit a basketball court for the school their NGO is supporting in Lagos where a basketball exhibition match will be held
A reception is also expected to be organized for the couple on Sunday before returning to Abuja in preparation for their departure from the country on Monday.
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