Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna state, says Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex,’s pursuit of good causes, aligned with his life’s long .activism for improvement in the condition of the poor.
Sani spoke on Friday when Harry paid him a courtesy called at the Government House, Kaduna.
He said, as governor, he is committed to bringing hope to the weak and vulnerable.
“I am extremely delighted to welcome Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, to Kaduna State, the heartbeat of Northern Nigeria and Nigeria’s Centre of Learning.
“Your visit reminds us of another happy event 68 years ago, when Queen Elizabeth II, your grandmother, was welcomed to Kaduna on 2nd February, 1956, by our revered leader, the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello (of blessed memory)”, the governor said.
The governor described the Prince as “a symbol of courage, perseverance, compassion, and the oneness of humanity” and commended him for his selfless service to the United Kingdom and humanity.
“You made your mark in the United Kingdom’s Airforce, attaining the rank of Captain.
“Despite your privileged upbringing and position in the Royal Family, you opted to go to the battlefield in the service of your country.
“You are an inspiration to the youths and an epitome of patriotism”, the governor said.
He also lauded the Prince 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”, Sani said.
He said Nigeria and the United Kingdom have had long standing relationship.
He said, “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 governor noted that the first British Governor of Northern Nigeria, Sir Frederick Lugard, chose to operate from Kaduna due to its proximity to the Lagos – Kano Railway.
He said Kaduna became the capital of the defunct Northern Nigeria in 1917 adding that “to date, Kaduna remains the political and cultural capital of Northern Nigeria”.
The governor added that Kaduna is home to many military formations, including the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and the Command and Staff College, Jaji, among many others.
In his remarks, Harry said, the focused of his trip was on the wounded Nigerian soldiers.
He said his wife Meghan couldn’t accompany him to Kaduna because she was holding series of meetings in Abuja.
“Thank you for everything that you do as service to this to this community.
“The focus of this trip is obviously the wounded Nigerian forces, men and women who served in the Nigerian forces to keep people safe and having founded the Invictus games over 10 years ago, Nigeria was the first African nation to join last year in Germany with 10 fantastic human beings.
“And as we had a conversation with the chief of defence staff a few hours earlier, he acknowledged the smiles on their faces and the fact that opportunity, that moment being part of the Invictus community put a smile back on their faces.
So when you talk about lifting the spirit, that is what we are here to do.
“We will build on that morale that anyone that is put in the line of fire with their lives despite injury is not over, he said.
By John Shiklam in Kaduna
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