Davido wore jacket bearing names of missing pupils and teachers
Nigerian musician Davido has shared why he chose to spotlight the country's kidnapping crisis during his performance at the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to the singer, he used the global stage to bring attention to the abduction of schoolchildren and their teachers in Oyo State, hoping to amplify awareness of the incident.
As part of the performance, Davido wore a customised jacket featuring the names of the missing pupils and teachers, using the symbolic gesture to keep the issue in the global spotlight.
Speaking in an interview with BBC Africa, the award-winning artiste expressed disappointment that some influential figures avoid speaking publicly about Nigeria's security challenges.
He argued that protecting the country's image should never take priority over addressing the suffering of innocent people.
“A lot of people do not want to talk about what is happening in my country because they want to protect a lot of images. Which image is there to protect if little children are being kidnapped?” he said, stressing that human lives matter more than public relations.
Davido further explained that while performing at one of the world's biggest sporting events was an honour, he believed it was important to use the opportunity to speak on behalf of those without a voice.
He added that artistes and other public figures have a responsibility to speak up on humanitarian and security issues, particularly when the lives of vulnerable people are at stake. At the time he made the remarks, the kidnapped pupils and their teachers were still missing.
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