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By Tracy Moses
The Federal Government has approved a total sum of ₦1,854,277,768 to fund the continued education and rehabilitation of the Chibok schoolgirls who were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.
The allocation, announced on Thursday by the Ministry of Education, falls under the Chibok Girls Intervention Programme and is expected to cover tuition, accommodation, skills training, psychosocial care, and other forms of support for the rescued girls until 2027.
Recall that on April 14, 2014, 276 girls were abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, by Boko Haram fighters, sparking worldwide outrage and the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign that drew solidarity from global leaders and celebrities.
Over the years, successive administrations, in collaboration with international partners, undertook negotiations, military operations, and rehabilitation programmes to rescue and reintegrate the victims. Notably, in 2017, the Muhammadu Buhari-led government secured the release of over 100 of the girls through a deal brokered with the insurgents, supported by international mediators.
Same year, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Women Affairs, launched structured programmes to provide psychosocial therapy, education, and healthcare for the rescued girls, many of whom had endured years of trauma in captivity. Some were also enrolled in private schools and universities with government sponsorship.
Despite these efforts, 87 of the abducted girls remain unaccounted for, 11 years after the incident. Their continued absence underscores the enduring scars of the Chibok tragedy on families, communities, and the nation at large.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, explained that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises safeguarding the future of Nigerian children.
“Through the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that the 108 rescued Chibok girls under the care of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs receive full academic and rehabilitation support,” the statement noted.
According to the ministry, 68 of the girls are currently studying at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, owned by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
It further stressed that despite criticisms regarding the cost of tuition and accommodation at AUN, government funding for their education would continue uninterrupted, adding that the wellbeing of the girls remains the top priority.
“The government’s commitment goes beyond finances. It is a moral obligation and a national duty to transform one of the darkest chapters in our history into a narrative of resilience, dignity, and hope,” the ministry stated.