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Dabiri-Erewa Urges Young Nigerians to Dream Big, Welcomes Returnees At Youth Engagement Programme
Dabiri-Erewa Urges Young Nigerians to Dream Big, Welcomes Returnees At Youth Engagement Programme
Abuja, Nigeria – The Chairman/CEO Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has encouraged young Nigerians to believe in themselves, pursue their dreams with confidence, and recognise that nothing is impossible with determination and resilience.
Eereporter.com
Speaking at a Youth Empowerment Summit programme which is part of 2026 National Diaspora Day, Dabiri-Erewa , noted that the event was designed to inspire and equip young people with the knowledge and motivation needed to become better leaders and responsible citizens.
She urged participants to take full advantage of the experiences and insights shared by the resource persons and panelists, stressing the importance of learning how to overcome challenges, develop leadership skills, and remain proud of their identity.
The NiDCOM Chairman recalled that some of the participants had attended similar capacity-building programmes in the past and had returned to share their success stories, demonstrating the positive impact of mentorship and empowerment initiatives.
As part of the programme, Dabiri-Erewa introduced two Nigerian returnees from South Africa who shared their personal experiences of resilience despite facing significant challenges abroad.
One of the returnees, a Chemical Engineering student, narrated how he combined his studies with running a successful tutoring business for more than 30 students weekly before circumstances forced him to return to Nigeria.
He expressed his desire to continue his education while pursuing opportunities in the power and petroleum sector, adding that although he missed the friendships he built in South Africa, he did not miss the discrimination and bureaucratic challenges he experienced there.
Another returnee, Mrs. Maria Adeyemi recounted the hardships she and her family endured in South Africa, including documentation challenges, financial loss, and prolonged separation from her husband. She expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the federal government for facilitating their safe return to Nigeria through NiDCOM’s intervention.
Adeyemi also revealed her aspiration to establish a restaurant in Nigeria, promising to showcase her culinary skills and contribute meaningfully to the country’s hospitality industry.
Responding to their testimonies, Dabiri-Erewa assured the returnees that NiDCOM would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to support their aspirations and reintegration into society.
She reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to promoting youth development, supporting Nigerians in the diaspora and returnees, and creating opportunities that enable young Nigerians to realise their full potential.
Speaking in the same vein, the Group Managing Director of ARCO Group Plc, Engr. Alfred Okoigun has called on Nigerian youths to embrace innovation, integrity, and lifelong learning as essential tools for driving national development and transforming the country’s healthcare sector.
Dabiri-Erewa
Delivering a goodwill message at the 2026 National Diaspora Day Youth Empowerment Summit, organised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Okoigun commended NiDCOM, under the leadership of its Chairman/CEO, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for creating a platform that connects young Nigerians with distinguished professionals and members of the diaspora to inspire collaboration and nation-building.
He also applauded the federal government for supporting initiatives that empower young Nigerians and leverage the expertise of the diaspora for sustainable national development.
E-signed.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun (mnipr)
Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols, (NIDCOM )
Eereporter.com
NAF Activates Immediate Search and Rescue Following Aircraft Accident in Ondo Community
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has activated an immediate Search and Rescue operation following an ATR-42 aircraft accident in the Igbokoda area of Ondo State on 5 October 2026.
Eereporter.com
The aircraft was on a routine mission from Benin to Lagos when the accident occurred. Search and Rescue operations, in coordination with relevant authorities and emergency response agencies, are currently ongoing.
The NAF is committed to ensuring the success of the ongoing Search and Rescue efforts. Further details will be communicated in due course.
Helicopters crash
Ehimen Ejodame
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Headquarters, Nigerian Air Force
5 October 2026
Eereporter.com
News
Suspected Terrorists Kills Bus Driver, Abduct 18 Sokoto Health College Students Travelling to Oyo
Suspected Terrorists Kills Bus Driver, Abduct 18 Sokoto Health College Students Travelling to Oyo
Suspected terrorists have abducted about 18 students of Gamji College of Health Technology, Sokoto State, who were travelling to their home towns in Oyo State, SaharaReporters has learnt. The incident reportedly occurred within the past 48 hours along the route to Oyo State, with the driver of the bus allegedly killed at the scene.
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A youth leader from Oke-Ogun, who confirmed the incident to SaharaReporters during an exclusive interview, said the victims were not students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUS), as earlier reported.
According to him, the students were travelling in a chartered bus from Gamji College of Health Technology in Sokoto to Oke-Ogun, particularly Igboho in Oyo State.
“Sadly, the unfortunate incident is being confirmed by me because I’m from Oke-Ogun too, and our people have confirmed that it truly happened in the past 48 hours.
“But it wasn’t a bus conveying UDUS students. It was a bus taking students from Gamji College of Health Technology, Sokoto, to Oke-Ogun, Igboho to be precise.
“The driver was killed and all the students were kidnapped. They have reached the Mokwa side,” the youth leader said. Other sources familiar with the incident told SaharaReporters that the number of abducted students could be as many as 18.
The sources said the students were travelling in a chartered bus arranged by their school to convey them to their respective home towns in Oyo State. They were reportedly all taken away by the assailants after the driver was killed.
The reported movement of the abducted students towards the Mokwa axis has raised concerns among residents and relatives of the victims, as the area has previously witnessed attacks and abductions along major roads.
The victims were travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom when gunmen reportedly attacked their two buses along the Owerri-Onitsha Road in Umunoha, Imo State, on Thursday.
Isiah Akpan, the Managing Director of Uko Akwa Ibom Motors Nigeria Limited, said the abductors had demanded N50 million for each victim, putting the total ransom at N950 million.
Reacting in a post on X, human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, said the incident reinforced his longstanding position that the NYSC had “outlived its usefulness in its present form.”
Terrorists Attack
“You cannot force young Nigerians to ‘serve their fatherland’ when the same country cannot guarantee their safety while they travel to their places of service,” he wrote.
Sowore called for the immediate suspension of the scheme and its eventual abolition, proposing that corps members should, in the interim, be allowed to serve within their states of origin.
Eereporter.com
Many Feared Dead as Helicopter Crashes in Ondo Community
Many persons are feared dead after a helicopter crashed in Igbokoda, headquarters of Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
Eereporter.com
The incident, which occurred on Monday, October 5, 2026, threw the coastal community into panic, with residents scampering for safety.
Details surrounding the crash remained sketchy as of the time of filing this report.
It was yet unclear how many persons were aboard the helicopter, while the condition of possible survivors could not be immediately ascertained.
Sources in the community told SaharaReporters that efforts were underway to access the crash site and determine the extent of casualties and circumstances that led to the crash.
“Yes, it’s true. A helicopter just crashed now at Igbokoda, Ondo state,” a resident told SaharaReporters.
Ondo State Police Command spokesperson Abayomi Jimoh told SaharaReporters he was unaware of the incident but would make inquiries.
Helicopters crash
Igbokoda is a riverine community and commercial hub of Ilaje, one of the oil-rich areas of Ondo State, where helicopters are frequently used for oil and gas logistics operations.
Nigeria has recorded a series of helicopter crashes in recent years, many involving oil workers and military aircraft, raising fresh concerns over aviation safety and regulatory compliance.
Eereporter.com
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