An 18-year-old girl from the Philippines has successfully reconnected with her long-lost Nigerian father after years of separation.
The reunion, facilitated by a viral Twitter post, highlights the power of social media in bridging gaps and reuniting families across borders.
Meteor Nigeria reported the girl’s quest on Monday.
The search began when a Twitter user, Chude Nnamdi (@chude__), shared the girl’s story, revealing her determination to find her Nigerian father, Paschal Ogbuagu Nnanna, who had left the Philippines shortly after her birth.
The tweet included a photo of the girl and her father’s passport, which indicated that he was from Enugu State, Nigeria.
The girl’s story quickly gained traction, as many social media users rallied to help her find her father.
Nnamdi tweeted on Tuesday that the girl’s father had been found.
His tweet read: “We have found the father… so many stories and complications, the Filipino mom prevented him from seeing and speaking with the child since she was little. I wish him and his child all the best! Thank you everyone who helped!”
According to the details shared, the girl’s father had been estranged from her for most of her life.
Her Filipino mother had reportedly prevented any communication between them, leaving the young woman with little more than a name and a faded memory of her father.
The girl’s determination to find him grew stronger as she entered adulthood, and she turned to social media in the hopes of reuniting with him.
The tweet did not disclose the names of the girl or her mother, but it did include her father’s name and the fact that he was from Enugu State, Nigeria.
This information proved crucial in the search, as it allowed people familiar with the name and location to come forward with possible leads.
Social Media Reactions
The response on social media was swift and mixed, with users expressing a range of emotions, from hope and encouragement to skepticism and caution.
One user, identified as Hon. Bryan (@OkaforBryan), claimed to have known the father from their school days and offered to help trace him. “I schooled with this young man in the pp at National Grammar School Nike Enugu. Nnanna is the name. I can trace for him if possible,” Bryan wrote.
Others expressed concerns about the potential complications of reuniting the father and daughter, especially if the father had moved on with his life. A user with the handle @oviekingsley4 cautioned, “One has to be careful also not to go scatter the man’s current marriage ooo. Cause this fit be his past secret.”
Despite the mixed reactions, the majority of users were supportive of the girl’s quest, with many sharing the post in hopes of reaching someone who knew the father. The collective effort paid off, as a few individuals came forward with information that eventually led to the reunion.
The story of this Filipino girl is not an isolated case. Many Nigerian men, particularly from the Igbo community, have traveled to various parts of Asia, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, in search of better economic opportunities. In some instances, these men have fathered children with local women, but due to various circumstances, they have lost contact with their children.
One user, @William20085460, highlighted the growing trend of Igbo men fathering children in Asia but losing communication with them. “In the next 10 years, Igbos generation in Asia will make up a full state.
“Some have three kids and lost communication with their children. Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and co. Our Igbo brothers don born full,” he tweeted.
Another user, @EdomobiErn33106, shared a similar experience, stating, “We have many of them in the Philippines and some other parts of Asia too.
“I met one with two kids, a boy and a girl. She told me her baby daddy is from Enugu State, and I have known each other from Malay. She’s been taking care of the kids alone, and it’s not easy bringing up the kids.”
