Princess Adenubi Olagbegi-Apampa, a US-based entrepreneur and cleric, is calling on Nigerians in the diaspora to reconsider their reluctance to return home, emphasizing that the challenges Nigeria faces—especially insecurity—are not unique, nor should they discourage contributions to national development.
Speaking during the commissioning of the multi-million naira Princess Nubi Plaza Seliat Hall in Oluyole Estate along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ibadan, Oyo State, the Owo-born royal and human capital expert shared a powerful message: Nigeria needs her people back.
“Every country has its challenges. The insecurity we face here is not exclusive to Nigeria,” she said. “In fact, what many people don’t realise is that the US, for all its glory, battles even worse issues. I see more beggars on the streets in America than I do here. Every day on my way to the office, I pass 20 to 30 homeless people.”
Olagbegi-Apampa urged Nigerians abroad not to use insecurity as an excuse to stay away, stressing that insecurity is a global concern—not just a Nigerian one.
“Corruption exists in every country,” she noted. “The only difference is that in Nigeria, it’s often done in the open. In the US, it’s more hidden, but it’s still very much there.”
Her call to action is rooted in a deep sense of patriotism and hope for a better Nigeria. She believes that the collective return of skilled, knowledgeable Nigerians abroad could be a turning point for the nation.
“We must stop seeing Nigeria as a lost cause. If anything will change, it must start with us. If we all run away, who will fix the system?” she asked. “This country won’t fix itself—we must be the ones to do it.”
While acknowledging the frustrations many Nigerians feel, she emphasized that there’s no place like home and encouraged returning citizens to focus on what they can contribute, rather than what’s wrong.
“Not all fingers are equal,” she said. “But every hand matters when it comes to building a nation.”
Her remarks come at a time when many Nigerians abroad are weighing the pros and cons of relocating home due to economic, political, and security concerns. But for Olagbegi-Apampa, the solution lies not in fleeing, but in planting roots and becoming part of the change.
