By Nkechi Eze
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has honoured the memory of Nigerians and persons of Nigerian origin who lost their lives in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States.
According to a statement by the Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa remembered Godwin O. Ajala, Ignatius Udo Adanga, Olabisi Shadie Layeni-Yee, Sadie Ini Ette and Ayodeji Awe, whose lives were cut short in the tragedy.
Dabiri-Erewa made the remarks as the world marks the 25th anniversary of the attacks, which claimed thousands of lives and left an enduring impact on families and communities across the globe.
She said the passage of 25 years had not diminished the pain of losing loved ones, stressing that the stories of the victims must continue to be told, particularly to younger generations who did not witness the tragedy.
“We remember them. We remember their families. We remember the lives they lived and the dreams they carried. Twenty-five years later, they are not forgotten. Their names remain, and their stories must continue to be told,” she said.
The NiDCOM boss extended her thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the victims, noting that behind the statistics associated with September 11 were individuals with families, careers, aspirations and dreams.
She said remembering the Nigerian victims also underscored the far-reaching presence of Nigerians across the world and the enduring relationships they have built in the communities where they live, work and contribute.
Dabiri-Erewa reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to recognising and honouring the lives, contributions and experiences of Nigerians in the diaspora, stressing that every Nigerian life matters, regardless of where they live in the world.
She said the anniversary, although a painful reminder of the lives lost, also provided an opportunity to celebrate the lives of the victims and the legacies they left behind.
She prayed for the peaceful rest of the victims and for strength, comfort and healing for their families and loved ones who continue to live with the pain of their loss.
