Twelve years after the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls by Boko Haram terrorist organization, the Federal Government says it has made significant progress in restoring hope and dignity to many of the survivors.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, announced that dozens of the girls have graduated from universities and vocational institutions, while others are still pursuing higher education.
The story of the Chibok girls began on the night of April 14, 2014, when 276 schoolgirls were abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram terrorists.
While many have since regained their freedom, life after captivity was marked by another painful challenge, stigma, and discrimination as some survivors struggled to reintegrate into society.
The Federal Government, through the Rescued Chibok Girls Support Programme, partnered with stakeholders to restore confidence in the survivors through education, skills acquisition, psychosocial support, and economic empowerment
The Minister of Women affairs disclosed that several of the rescued girls, sponsored by the Federal Government to study at the American University of Nigeria, Yola in Adamawa state, have successfully earned university degrees
She also announced the graduation of eighteen additional survivors from vocational training programmes.
Each of the vocational graduates received start-up kits valued at one million naira alongside a one-million-naira cash grant to establish their businesses.
According to the Minister, twenty-one more beneficiaries are currently studying for degree programmes at the American University of Nigeria and are expected to graduate in 2027.
Nursing mothers among the beneficiaries are also receiving one million naira each as child-care support.
In addition, two hundred and twenty-one parents of the rescued girls were presented with business merchandise and two hundred thousand naira each to strengthen their household livelihoods.
Representatives of the Adamawa and Borno State Governments, led by their respective Commissioners for Women Affairs, commended the initiative, describing it as a model for sustainable rehabilitation and social reintegration.
The ceremony marked the end of the Rescued Chibok Girls Support Programme.
(Follow AIT News on WhatsApp, AfricaIndependentTV on YouTube, ait_online on Facebook and X (Formerly Twitter), and officialait on TikTok, Instagram and Threads)
Editor: Ebuwa Omo-Osagie
