Nigeria welcomes Invictus Games Foundation visit
Abuja, Nigeria – 30 April 2025. The Invictus Games Foundation (IGF) began its West Africa visit on Monday with a powerful first few days in Nigeria, spotlighting sport as a tool for recovery and international connection for wounded, injured, and sick (WIS) service personnel and veterans.
IGF representatives Helen D’Oyley and David Wiseman, joined by Darlene Barrett from IGF sponsor Monster Energy and Derrick Cobbinah of Team Nigeria delivery partner Africa Unconquered, visited two locations central to Nigeria’s growing role in the Invictus Community: seeing progress on the new Armed Forces Invictus Centre as well as joining a local training camp hosting adaptive sports for Nigerian veterans. Later this week, they will attend a celebration dinner marking the Invictus Games Team Nigeria’s achievements from the recent Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025.
Visit to the Invictus Centre and joining a WIS Training Camp: Abuja, Nigeria
The group’s first stop was the under-construction Armed Forces Invictus Centre, a major rehabilitation and sport development hub set to transform access to recovery services for WIS personnel in the region. Breaking ground earlier this year, the Centre is a flagship initiative for Nigeria’s commitment to recovery through sport. IGF were shown around by Chief Engineer Gimba.
From there, the delegation travelled to a nearby training camp, where they were welcomed by Team Nigeria competitors and witnessed a lively sitting volleyball session — an Invictus Games core sport in which Team Nigeria claimed Silver at the recent Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 in a thrilling final against Brazil.
The trip to Nigeria is part of a broader engagement across West and East Africa, with IGF representatives heading next to Ghana and Kenya. An expedition in Kenya with WIS personnel from across the IGF network will conclude the tour, offering participants a unique recovery experience through nature immersion and storytelling.
The Foundation’s visit underscores its strategic goal to grow and diversify the global Invictus Games Foundation’s community, while reinforcing the powerful role of African nations in shaping the future of recovery through sport. For more updates and to follow the journey, stay tuned at www.invictusgamesfoundation.org.