Turning Ordeal to Opportunity: Ondo Receives Returnees

​AKURE — Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has charged indigenes of the state recently evacuated from South Africa following targeted xenophobic crises to channel their harrowing experiences into catalysts for personal and communal growth.

​Speaking during an official reception and empowerment rollout at the Cocoa Conference Hall in Akure, Governor Aiyedatiwa assured the returnees that the state would provide comprehensive support to help them rebuild their lives. He noted that despite the abrupt and violent circumstances surrounding their exit from South Africa, they return with valuable skills, global exposure, and resilience that can significantly boost the local economy.

​“Look around, look for opportunities, see the needs and meet the needs. That’s how to make money. There are needs everywhere when you look,” the governor told the gathering.

​To ease their resettlement, the governor announced a financial token approved by the state government for each returnee. Biodata and profiling processes have also been initiated through the Ministry of Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations to capture data and streamline comprehensive intervention packages. Aiyedatiwa stressed that true reintegration extends beyond physical repatriation, encompassing structured psycho-social counselling, entrepreneurship training, and an enabling operational environment.

​Reaffirming the administration’s stance on citizenship rights, the governor stated: “As long as you are Nigerian, you can live in any part of the country. In South Africa, they don’t want to see you. But there is nowhere we want to send you to. Nigeria has to receive you back as citizens of this country. And since you have traced your roots back to Ondo State, we also receive you as our own.”

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​Earlier in his opening remarks, the Commissioner for Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations, Otunba Wale Akinlosotu, lauded the governor’s prompt and empathetic response upon learning of the citizens’ plight. He reiterated that Ondo State remains a secure haven for its people, regardless of geographical distance.

​Sharing harrowing accounts on behalf of the displaced citizens, Mr. Ajibade James Ogunleye detailed violent flashpoints in areas like Johannesburg and Sunnyside, where numerous Nigerians lost properties, permits, and established businesses to systemic hostility. He expressed deep gratitude to both the Federal and Ondo State governments for orchestrating a safe evacuation and providing immediate shelter and relief.

​The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Olumide Aserere, who commended stakeholders for collaborating to secure a soft landing for the traumatized returnees.