The Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of 21-year-old Nigerian student, Qayyum Balogun, in Dublin, describing the incident as heartbreaking and a painful loss to Nigeria.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Commission’s Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Dabiri-Erewa extended her condolences to the bereaved family, saying the untimely death of the young student had left the nation and Nigerians in the diaspora in profound grief.
The NiDCOM boss described the late Balogun, a third-year Computer Science student at Maynooth University, as a peaceful, disciplined and hardworking young man who had lofty aspirations of becoming a computer engineer.
According to her, the loss goes beyond his immediate family, noting that Nigeria has been deprived of a promising young citizen whose future held great potential.
Dabiri-Erewa stressed that every Nigerian, regardless of where they reside, deserves to live, study and pursue their aspirations in safety and dignity.
She expressed confidence that the ongoing investigation by the Irish authorities would be thorough, transparent and concluded without delay, while urging that all those found responsible be brought to justice in accordance with the law.
The NiDCOM chairman also commended the Nigerian Embassy in Ireland, members of the Nigerian community and individuals and organisations that have supported the Balogun family during the difficult period.
She prayed for God’s comfort and strength for the bereaved family and for the peaceful repose of the deceased’s soul.
Dabiri-Erewa reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to Nigerians in the diaspora, encouraging them to remain law-abiding while continuing to uphold the values of excellence, resilience and patriotism for which Nigerians are known across the world.
