NIDCOM boss remembers Nigerians lost in 9/11 attack

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As the world marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has honoured the memory of the Nigerians who died in the attack.

The Commission’s boss in a press statement by NIDCOM Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Monday in Abuja, noted that time has not erased the memories of those who never returned home that day, even as  their names remain part of history and must never be forgotten.

According to Dabiri-Erewa among the victims were Nigerians and persons of Nigerian origin whose lives, dreams and futures were tragically cut short.

She 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 in the attacks that shook the world on September 11, 2001.

She said while a quarter of a century had passed since that dark day, the loss of a loved one was not measured by time, stressing that the stories of those who died should continue to be told, particularly to younger generations who did not witness the tragedy.

The NIDCOM boss extended her thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the victims, noting that behind the figures associated with September 11 were people 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 said remembering the Nigerian victims also reflected the far-reaching presence of Nigerians across the world and the enduring bonds they have built in the communities where they live, work and contribute.

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

While the anniversary remains a painful reminder of lives lost, she said remembrance also offers an opportunity to celebrate the lives the victims lived and the legacies they left behind, rather than allowing their stories to fade with time.

She prayed for the peaceful rest of the victims and for strength, comfort and healing for their families and loved ones who continue to carry the pain of their loss.