Davido Advocates for Kidnapped Nigerian Students and Teachers at World Cup Countdown Concert

Afrobeats megastar David Adeleke, globally known as Davido, used his headline performance at the official 2026 FIFA World Cup countdown concert to draw global attention to the security situation in Nigeria.

Taking the stage on Wednesday in the United States, the singer turned his highly anticipated pre-tournament showcase into a platform for advocacy, wearing a customized outfit dedicated to the pupils and teachers recently abducted by armed bandits in the Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Backstage footage and concert photos showed the artist wearing a white T-shirt displaying the word “NIGERIA” across the front, paired with a black leather jacket featuring “BRING THEM HOME” printed boldly on the back. The jacket was detailed with green circular buttons bearing the individual names of the kidnapped victims. To highlight their status, the names of those still held in captivity were written in white, while the names of the victims who lost their lives during the ordeal were inscribed in red.

Addressing the audience and media shortly before taking the stage, Davido expressed deep grief over the tragedy and urged both state and federal authorities to expedite rescue operations.

“Peace and love everywhere. May God be with the families of the abducted and the ones who have been killed,” the singer stated. “They still haven’t been rescued, we’re praying to God every day. We’re also praying to God that the government hastens… My country is going through a lot. We represent everywhere we go.”

The high-profile performance solidifies Davido’s role as a major cultural ambassador for African music on the global sports stage.

The countdown concert serves as a key promotional milestone ahead of the upcoming tournament. This appearance follows the announcement that Davido, alongside fellow prominent Nigerian artists Burna Boy, Rema, and Ayra Starr, will be featured on the official 2026 FIFA World Cup soundtrack album.