- Abike Dabiri-Erewa Urges Nigerian Youths to Dream Big, Embrace Resilience
- Mrs. Maria Adeyemi, narrated the hardships her family faced in South Africa, including documentation challenges, financial difficulties and prolonged separation from her husband
- Dabiri-Erewa introduced two Nigerians who recently returned from South Africa and shared their experiences of overcoming challenges abroad
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has urged young Nigerians to dream big, believe in themselves and pursue their ambitions with determination, saying success is built on resilience and hard work.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Dabiri-Erewa made the call at the Youth Empowerment Summit, one of the major activities marking the 2026 National Diaspora Day celebration in Abuja.
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She said the summit was designed to inspire and equip young Nigerians with leadership skills, knowledge and the confidence needed to become responsible citizens and future leaders.
“I encourage participants to maximise the opportunity to learn from experienced resource persons and panellists. The programme was designed to help you develop leadership capacity, overcome challenges and remain proud of your Nigerian identity,” she said.
The NiDCOM boss noted that many young people who had participated in previous empowerment programmes had gone on to achieve remarkable success, with several returning to share testimonies on how mentorship and capacity-building positively transformed their lives.
As part of the summit, Dabiri-Erewa introduced two Nigerians who recently returned from South Africa and shared their experiences of overcoming challenges abroad.
One of the returnees, a Chemical Engineering student, recounted how he combined his studies with running a tutoring business that served more than 30 students weekly before returning to Nigeria. He said he hopes to continue his education while pursuing opportunities in the power and petroleum sectors.
Another returnee, Mrs. Maria Adeyemi, narrated the hardships her family faced in South Africa, including documentation challenges, financial difficulties and prolonged separation from her husband. She expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government for facilitating their safe return through NiDCOM.
Adeyemi also revealed plans to establish a restaurant in Nigeria as part of efforts to contribute to the country’s hospitality industry.
Responding to the testimonies, Dabiri-Erewa assured the returnees of the commission’s continued support through partnerships with relevant stakeholders to facilitate their reintegration and help them achieve their aspirations.
She reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to youth empowerment, diaspora engagement and the successful reintegration of returning Nigerians through programmes that promote personal growth and national development.
Also speaking at the summit, the Group Managing Director of ARCO Group Plc, Alfred Okoigun, urged young Nigerians to embrace innovation, integrity and lifelong learning as essential values for national development.
He stressed that Nigerian youths have a critical role to play in transforming the country, particularly in the healthcare sector, through creativity, professionalism and collaboration.
Okoigun also commended NiDCOM under Dabiri-Erewa’s leadership for creating a platform that connects young Nigerians with accomplished professionals and members of the diaspora to promote mentorship, collaboration and nation-building.
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