World Cup tribute was to spotlight abducted Oyo pupils — Davido

Afrobeats star Davido has explained that his decision to honour abducted schoolchildren and teachers from Oyo State during the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup was driven by a desire to draw global attention to Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

In an interview with the BBC News Africa, the award-winning singer said he could not remain silent while children continued to be kidnapped, stressing that protecting the country’s image should never take precedence over the lives of innocent victims.

According to him, attempts to downplay the security situation for the sake of Nigeria’s reputation are misplaced.

“A lot of people don’t really want to talk about what is going on in my country. They want to protect the image, but there’s no image to protect if little kids are being kidnapped,” Davido said.

The singer noted that although performing at the World Cup was a significant career milestone, he believed the global stage also provided an opportunity to amplify the voices of victims whose stories risk being forgotten.

He said music and live performances remain his most effective means of advocacy, adding that he felt compelled to use his platform to keep attention on the missing pupils and teachers.

“We have the power to let the world know through our own means. My power is in music and performances. These students and teachers have been missing and still not found, so I used my platform to project what’s really going on,” he added.

During the World Cup opening ceremony, Davido wore a customised jacket bearing the names of the abducted Oyo schoolchildren and teachers, alongside the inscription, “Bring Them Home,” in a symbolic appeal for their safe rescue.

The gesture has since attracted widespread praise, with many Nigerians commending the singer for using one of the world’s biggest sporting events to spotlight the plight of the victims and advocate for their safe return.