South Africa Returnees Share Ordeals at Abuja Summit

At the 2026 National Diaspora Day Youth Empowerment Summit held in Abuja, two Nigerians evacuated from South Africa recounted their ordeals involving discrimination, documentation issues, and financial hardships. The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, introduced the returnees as resilient individuals despite their challenges abroad.

One returnee, a Chemical Engineering student, shared his experience of balancing studies with a tutoring business before returning to Nigeria, expressing a desire to complete his education and explore opportunities in the power and petroleum sectors. Another returnee, Maria Adeyemi, detailed her family's struggles, including documentation problems and financial losses, and expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government for facilitating their safe return.

She plans to establish a restaurant in Nigeria. Dabiri-Erewa assured the returnees of NiDCOM's continued support for their reintegration and encouraged young Nigerians to remain resilient.

The summit aimed to inspire youth and equip them with leadership skills.