By John Nwokocha
The visit of Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, to Nigeria was an accomplishment well deserved. From start to finish, the three-day tour was engaging. Traveling from one destination to another was remarkably seamless.
Their tour shedules as exclusively reported by Africa Health Report, were executed effortlessly, like a well reharsed stage play. Everyone who had a role to play could not afford to lower watchers’ high expectations.
For the royal couple, the memory of their visit will not fade away easily.
It was their first ever visit to Nigeria. The Duke of Sussex and his wife, were in Nigeria for the promotion of the Invictus Games – the sporting event Harry founded for wounded military veterans.
Nigeria is the first African country to join in the Invictus Games held in Germany last year with ten participants from the Nigerian Armed Forces.
The 72 hours in Nigeria with a loaded itinerary have added colour and impact on the Invictus Games without any iota of doubts.
The centrepiece of their visit is to give succour to wounded soldiers via Mental health balance, psychological encouragement and inspire recovery. Indeed, Harry pledged support for the veteran soldiers while speaking in Kaduna.
In addition, to support for rehabilitation and broadening respect for Nigeria in the global space.
Arriving in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, on Friday, May 10, the British royal couple was well received by their hosts-top officials of the Defence Headquarters.
Their 72 hours tour started with a visit to the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, that Friday afternoon.
The couple was received by military authorities on Friday afternoon in the nation’s seat of power.
Students Entertain Harry and Meghan in Abuja
They proceeded to the Lightway Academy in Abuja where they launched an event on mental health for the students.
The students welcomed Prince Harry and Megan with joy and dances, as a drum and dance group from the Igbo ethnic group thrilled the guests.
“If you take anything away from today, just know that mental health affects every single person,” Harry told the students, wearing a traditional Nigerian bead necklace around his neck.
“The more you talk about it the more you can kick stigma away,” he stressed.
“It was really cool. I just wanted to touch him,” said a student, identified as, Nnena Edeh, 13,as the prince left the school.
“It was really inspiring,” Edeh concluded.
Nigeria’s Rich Cultural Showpiece
The Duke of Sussex and his wife will continue to play back in their memories the beautiful scenes and images of the country’s rich cultural showpiece lavished on them by the Lightway students during their visit.
Also in Abuja, the prince participated in a seated volleyball match with veterans, some of whom had missing limbs from combat in the North where troops battled terrorists.
Harry Enters Kaduna
On that same day they touched the Nigeria soil, Harry visited Kaduna state in the northern region of Nigeria. Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State as well as soldiers who were wounded in battle fronts welcomed him.
While welcoming the prince who was accompanied by some aides and top Nigerian military officers, to the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House in Kaduna on Friday afternoon, Governor Sani commended him for identifying with the Nigerian Armed Forces and supporting wounded soldiers.
The governor noted that such visits would go a long way in lifting the spirits of the brave and resilient officers and soldiers.
According to him, Prince Harry’s visit is evidence of his commitment to inspiring recovery, supporting rehabilitation, and broadening respect for the Nigerian soldiers.
Wildlife Conservation Activism
“I also salute you for your exemplary activism in the area of wildlife conservation, especially in Africa. You also helped found a Charity for children in Lesotho.
In sports, you founded the Invictus Games, an international sporting competition for injured and sick veterans and service people. Your life-long pursuit of good causes aligns with my own life-long activism for improvement in the conditions of the poor, vulnerable, and underserved in our society. As governor, I have committed myself to bringing hope to the weak and vulnerable,” the governor said.
Nigeria and The United Kingdom Long-Standing Relationship
“Nigeria and the United Kingdom have had a long-standing relationship. In the forging of Nigeria-British relations, Kaduna hosted some of the most prominent political and administrative officers from colonial times to the attainment of Nigeria’s independence in 1960. The first British Governor of Northern Nigeria, Sir Frederick Lugard, chose to operate from Kaduna due to its proximity to the Lagos – Kano Railway. Kaduna became the capital of former Northern Nigeria in 1917. To date, Kaduna remains the political and cultural capital of Northern Nigeria.
“Kaduna also occupies a strategic place in the growth and development of the Nigerian Military.
The West African Frontier Force -WAFF (the precursor of today’s Armed Forces of Nigeria) was transferred to Kaduna in 1913 because it was isolated from other existing towns, and free from local political complications. The movement of the WAFF from Zungeru to Kaduna on 21st February 1913 can thus be said to be the birth of modern Kaduna, and this is why Kaduna State is rightly regarded as the home of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
Nigerian Army, 1 Division
Sani who went into historical journey said, “From housing the West African Frontier Force during colonial times, Kaduna is now home to the Premier Division of the Nigerian Army, 1 Division, and the Premier Base of the Nigerian Air Force, where you landed. It also houses the Nigerian Defence Academy, the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, the Nigerian Navy School of Armament Technology, and many other notable military institutions.
“I wish to specially thank you for identifying with the Armed Forces of Nigeria, and for your commitment to inspiring and supporting our troops. Your visit will definitely lift the spirits of our brave and resilient officers and men and women of the Armed Forces.
“As the Governor of Kaduna State, I have committed myself to the sustenance of the more than a century of this excellent relationship between our State and the Armed Forces. They are our strategic partners. We collaborate closely for the attainment of their constitutional mandates. They also play a vital role in ensuring security as a foundation for our key objectives in health, education, infrastructure, and socio-economic development, alongside the promotion of peaceful coexistence and togetherness”.
Invictus Games to Put Smiles on the Faces of Wounded Nigerian Soldiers
On his part, Prince Harry said he is in Nigeria to use the Invictus Games he founded 10 years ago to put smiles on the faces of wounded Nigerian soldiers and their families.
He said having founded a charity organization that caters to the welfare of soldiers ten years ago, Nigeria is the first African country to embrace the organisation with ten fantastic soldiers.
“We had a conversation with the Chief of Defence Staff some few hours ago and our coming had put smiles to the wounded soldiers,” he said.
In line with traditional hospitality, Governor Sani presented some gift items to Prince Harry and decorated him in a traditional Hausa attire.
Visit to the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital
From the Kaduna State Government House, Prince Harry and his team visited the 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital and interacted with wounded soldiers receiving treatment.
Journalists were not allowed into the hospital wards, but the Director of Defence Information Brigadier General Tukur Gusau explained that the visit would impact the lives of the wounded soldiers and their families.
Prince Harry’s visit to Kaduna came 68 years after his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II visited the state during the time of the late Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello.
Before visiting Nigeria, Prince Harry was in London on Wednesday to mark the 10th anniversary of the games.
In Lagos They Share the Pivotal Role Mental Health
On Sunday, May 12, the couple arrived Lagos state, in continuation of their tour.
The couple was thrilled to sports and dances in Lagos as they canvassed unity through sports.
On day three of the visit, Prince Harry and Meghan took part in a basketball event with the Giants of Africa Foundation in Lagos, an organisation that helps youth through engagement in the sport.
The prince reportedly practised dribbling basketballs with children at the exhibition event for the foundation, which is run by a basketball veteran, Masai Ujiri.
Harry said, “The power of sports can change lives, it brings people together and creates community and there are no barriers which is the most important thing.”
The former army captain who flew helicopters in Afghanistan, founded the Invictus Games 10 years ago to help bring wounded veterans into sporting events to aid with their recuperation.
The couple later met with the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, took part in a Lagos fundraiser.
While speaking, the governor said it was a pleasure to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and share the vibrant culture of Lagos with them.
“We discussed the pivotal role mental health plays in holistic wellness, particularly for our military personnel. I commend the Duke and Duchess for spotlighting this crucial issue. Their commitment to supporting our heroes in uniform is truly inspiring.
“Looking forward to potential opportunities to host the Invictus Games in Nigeria and to showcase the resilience and spirit of our people,” the governor added in a post on X.
Speaking earlier, Sanwo-Olu extolled Meghan’s Nigerian heritage.
In a video posted on X by his Special Assistant on New Media, Jubril Gawat, the governor said knowing fully well “that Meghan has a decent percentage of Nigerian in her; we have sort of agreed that maybe that percentage should stay in Yoruba land. I can see she has been well attired and her yellow Aso Oke blends very well.”
Meghan Meets Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
On Friday afternoon, Meghan sat at an event for women in leadership with World Trade Organisation Director, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, where the Duchess discussed her Nigerian heritage and being a role model to women.
“I want to start by saying thank you very much for just how gracious you’ve all been in welcoming my husband and I to this country,” she said to applause, before adding, “my country”.
“It’s been really eye-opening and humbling to be able to know more about my heritage and to be able to know, this is just the beginning of that discovery,” she added.
As the tour wrapped up, lessons were learnt. Key points included, mental health, the prince meet wounded soldiers whom he targeted to connect with and promote his Invictus Games.
Conclusion
By and large, Nigeria has again, been put on the global map, this time around through Invictus Games.
It is imperative to note that the three-day visit will continue to resonate across the shores of Nigeria. Keen observers will not disagree with the fact that it was a strategic positioning of the country amidst the mishandling of socio-economic issues and unpopular policies by the present government back home. Multiple taxation, levies, insecurity, unstable electricity, among others are just concerns plaguing the people.
In some ways, these concerns put together is the mirror through which the country is being viewed by the rest of the world. Try as much as you can to launder the country’s image, several questions still beg for answers.
