Invictus Games

Last week, at the 2025 African Economic Global Convergence (AEGC) Summit, held in parallel with the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Invictus Games Foundation (IGF) was awarded the AEMA Black Prize in recognition of its meaningful impact across Africa. The award underscores the Foundation’s growing footprint on the continent, including its active programmes and partnerships in Nigeria, where the Foundation has supported rehabilitation efforts and the establishment of the Armed Forces Invictus Centre.

The 2025 AEGC Summit, themed “Advancing New Partnerships and Delivering Progress in the Global Space: Shaping the Future of Security, Economy, and Investment in Africa and the World towards AU Agenda 2063,” brings together global decision-makers, investors, policymakers, and civil society to drive collaboration for Africa’s transformation.

In the plenary session entitled “Resilience, Leadership, and Global Citizenship: Building Bridges Beyond Borders,” David Wiseman, IGF’s Chief Programmes and Strategy Officer, shared how the effectiveness of the Foundation’s work in Africa has been based on capacity building where sports recovery is nascent and thus working closely with leadership, referencing the vision of General Musa, Chief of Defence for the Nigerian Armed Forces.

Drawing from IGF’s on-the-ground work in Nigeria, David emphasised that whilst sports recovery is often focused on the individual there is a need for it to be embedded in a systemic fashion, to reach more wounded injured and sick service personnel and veterans and to go where the need is great.

Helen D’Oyley, IGF’s Chief Growth Officer, also participated in a high-profile panel on “Harnessing Sports, Culture, and the Creative Economy for Inclusive Growth and Youth Empowerment, and the Power of Global Partnerships.” She was joined by Her Excellency Hon. Hannatu Musa Musawa, Nigeria’s Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy; Juliet Ibrahim, Ghanaian actress and film producer; and Hamzat Lawal, CEO of Connected Development.

Helen’s remarks highlighted how sports and culture can catalyse economic inclusion with government and private sector when paired with strategic global and local partnerships with NGOs.In particular our work with key IGF partners Boeing and Monster, enables the Foundation to target programmes and initiatives across the Invictus Community.

The event ended with an open invitation to those in the room to consider ways of further embedding sport recovery into their nations for their wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, and to join the growing Invictus Movement.