A major milestone in the rehabilitation and recovery of Nigerian wounded service personnel was marked recently with the ground-breaking ceremony for the brand new Armed Forces Invictus Centre, set to provide new opportunities for sports recovery, took place in Abuja, Nigeria.
The event was led by the Chief of Defence Staff, General CG Musa, who welcomed the Honourable Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, to the site for the ceremony.
This pioneering facility aims to provide comprehensive support to Nigerian service members who have suffered injuries or illnesses whilst serving, using sport as a powerful tool for rehabilitation and reintegration.
Patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, along with The Duchess of Sussex, recently visited Nigeria and have long been vocal advocates for the power of sport in recovery.
The Duke said, “The ground-breaking of the Armed Forces Invictus Centre in Nigeria represents a pivotal shift for our global Invictus community, expanding its reach to the great continent of Africa. When my wife and I visited Nigeria last May, we witnessed first-hand the strength, hope and healing that sport ignites in individuals, as well as its restorative impact on families. I am especially proud to see Nigeria leading the way in Africa with this purpose-built recovery centre.”
The launch of the Invictus Centre is a testament to Nigeria’s growing commitment to the Invictus movement, which has played a transformative role in the lives of wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans worldwide.
The Invictus Games Foundation is delighted at seeing the project come to fruition, acknowledging the vital role the Centre will play in supporting wounded warriors as they rebuild their lives post injury.
Coordinator for the Africa project ,Cobbinah Derrick commended the Defence Headquarters and the significant they played alongside the Minister of Defence to ensure the project became a reality to restore the lost hope of injured military personnel.
“I did appreciate General Musa Gwambe the chief of Defence staff for the significant role he has played and of course Nigeria as a whole this will surely set a pace for historic purposes,” he said.
David Wiseman, Director for International Development, Invictus Games Foundation, said: “We are delighted to see Nigerians bring their vision for a new recovery centre to life. Nigeria continues to be a fantastically engaged member of our community, engaging both with the Invictus Games and our programmes Beyond the Games, thanks to the support of Monster Energy Cares. Nigeria’s growing commitment to sport for recovery for their wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans continues to be an inspiration.
“We were pleased to support the Invictus Centre’s architect with a recent visit to the UK’s DMRC Stanford Hall, and look forward to witnessing the impact of this fantastic development on the Nigerian, and broader African, community.”
As Team Nigeria gears up for its second appearance at an Invictus Games, with Vancouver Whistler 2025 fast approaching, the new centre will serve as a crucial resource for training and recovery, ensuring that service personnel have the best possible support to prepare for competition and, more importantly, for their future beyond injury.
However, credit must go to those people that made this ground-breaking project a reality in Nigeria. The President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu who magnanimously provides the enabling environment for the project to see the light of the day, Prince Harry, Cobbinah Derik, Alvin Atsegwasi, co-founder of Africa Unconquered Foundation, Chief of Defence staff, the Defence Headquarters and of course, the entire Invictus family.
