Abike Dabiri-Erewa Remembers Nigerians Lost in September 11 Attacks as World Marks 25th Anniversary

Abuja, September 14, 2026 – The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has honoured the memory of Nigerians who died in the September 11 attacks in the United States.

Twenty-five years after the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Dabiri-Erewa said the names of the Nigerian victims must not be forgotten. She noted that the attacks cut short the lives, dreams and futures of many people, including Nigerians and persons of Nigerian origin.

The NiDCOM Chairman specifically remembered Godwin O. Ajala, Ignatius Udo Adanga, Olabisi Shadie Layeni-Yee, Sadie Ini Ette and Ayodeji Awe, who were among those who lost their lives on that day.

Dabiri-Erewa said that although 25 years have passed, the pain of losing a loved one does not fade with time. She added that the stories of the victims should continue to be told, especially to younger generations who did not witness the incident.

She extended her thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the victims. According to her, behind the statistics of September 11 were individuals with families, careers, aspirations and dreams.

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.

Dabiri-Erewa also said remembering the Nigerian victims shows the wide presence of Nigerians across the world and the contributions they continue to make in their host communities.

She reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to recognising and honouring the lives and experiences of Nigerians in the diaspora, stressing that every Nigerian life matters wherever they are in the world.

While describing the anniversary as a painful reminder, she said it is also an opportunity to celebrate the lives the victims lived and the legacies they left behind.

The NiDCOM boss prayed for the peaceful repose of the victims and for strength, comfort and healing for their families.

The statement was signed by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols at NiDCOM, Abuja.