The Defence Headquarters announced plans for a modern Invictus Centre to aid in the complete recovery and rehabilitation of injured soldiers and veterans of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
The unveiling took place at a reception in honor of Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who were visiting Nigeria at the invitation of the Chief of Defence Staff in Abuja on Saturday.
The centre is expected to have top-notch facilities to support the recovery of injured soldiers and provide remedies for post-traumatic stress resulting from their experiences during operations.
Prince Harry expressed his emotion at the plans for the new invictus centre, noting that Nigeria was the first African country to join the invictus community.
He praised the Nigerian government for supporting the construction of the centre to help servicemen and women on their path to rehabilitation and recovery, recognizing their sacrifices.
He remarked, "We hope that the warmth and hospitality we have received will be extended as admiration and respect for the service members and their families long after we have left."
He also emphasized the importance of including families in the healing journey, acknowledging that when one person serves, the whole family serves.
He added, "When one person's trauma affects those around them, that person's healing can improve the entire community."
The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Muhammed Badaru, thanked the Duke and Duchess for establishing the invictus game and their concern for wounded heroes.
Badaru expressed gratitude for their support, stating that it gave them courage to continue their work and support for the wounded, and assuring that the government would strive to make them happy.
The Minister reaffirmed the government's strong commitment to the well-being of the wounded and injured soldiers.
He emphasized the dedication to the recovery and rehabilitation of soldiers, expressing eagerness to work closely with the Invictus Game foundation to extend its vision to all formations within the armed forces of Nigeria.
He acknowledged the ongoing sacrifices made by soldiers in various operations against adversaries.
He assured them that the government has a program in place to support their recovery in the event of injury.
The Minister expressed the country's readiness to host the Invictus games, and eagerness to continue discussions to determine the possibility and necessary arrangements.
He guaranteed that the construction of the Invictus center would be completed promptly with modern facilities.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, represented by the Chief of Administration, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, mentioned the significant number of wounded troops in the Nigerian Army.
Lagbaja noted the army's involvement in various operations, both domestically and internationally, that had resulted in many personnel being wounded, injured, sick, or incapacitated.
He said the army, with the help of the government and the people of Nigeria, has made sure its injured service members receive ongoing medical and social support both at home and abroad.
He has agreed to allocate N88 million to purchase limb prosthetics for one of the injured soldiers so that he can improve his mobility.
(NAN)
