25 Years After 9/11: NiDCOM Boss Remembers Five Nigerians, Says ‘They Are Not Forgotten’
By Pan Afric Reporters
The Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has commemorated the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks by honouring the memory of Nigerians and persons of Nigerian origin who lost their lives in the tragedy.
The message was contained in a statement issued by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, NiDCOM, Abuja, on September 14, 2026, as the world marks 25 years since the attacks that claimed thousands of lives in the United States.
Dabiri-Erewa specifically remembered five Nigerians — Godwin O. Ajala, Ignatius Udo Adanga, Olabisi Shadie Layeni-Yee, Sadie Ini Ette and Ayodeji Awe — whose lives were among those cut short during the attacks.
The NiDCOM boss said the passage of a quarter of a century had not diminished the pain suffered by families who lost 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,” Dabiri-Erewa said.
She extended her thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the victims, noting that behind the statistics associated with the September 11 attacks were individuals with families, careers, aspirations and dreams.
According to her, remembering the Nigerian victims also underscores the far-reaching presence of Nigerians across the globe 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, regardless of where they reside.
She stressed that every Nigerian life matters and that the circumstances surrounding a person’s death should not erase the contributions and legacy they made during their lifetime.
While acknowledging that the anniversary remains a painful reminder of the lives lost on September 11, 2001, the NiDCOM chairman said remembrance should also provide an opportunity to celebrate the lives lived and legacies left behind by the victims.
She urged that their stories should not be allowed to fade with time, particularly as successive generations come of age without personal memories of the historic tragedy.
Dabiri-Erewa prayed for the peaceful rest of the victims and for strength, comfort and healing for their families and loved ones who continue to bear the pain of their loss.
