By Chibuike Nwabuko
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – President Muhammadu Buhari has commended the strides made in the rehabilitation of the 106 freed Chibok Girls who are now back to school and has also approved the payment of the sum of N164, 763,759 (one hundred and sixty four million, seven hundred and sixty-three naira) for their second semester school fees at the American University of Nigeria, (AUN) in Yola. He also gave assurance that government will provide full support for their education.
Buhari made the commendation while reviewing the progress report submitted to him in line with his commitment to personally monitor the rehabilitation and reintegration into society of the freed Chibok girls.
He stated this on Sunday in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu made available to Sundiata Post.
The President who also renewed his commitment to bringing back all the Chibok Girls held by terrorists operating in the Northeast, also informed of his resolve to pursue avenues in addition to military action to free the abducted girls; protect the lives of all Nigerians and end insurgency in the north east.
He reminded that the Federal Government’s negotiations with the Boko Haram Terrorist group for the release of the Chibok girls led to the release of the two batches of 21 and 82 girls, a adding that the three additional girls rescued by the gallant efforts of our armed forces, brought the total number of freed Chibok girls so far to 106.
“Due to their traumatic experiences while in captivity, they were made to undertake medical attention, debriefing and de-radicalisation by security operatives before handing them over to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Development who was assigned the main role in supervising the rehabilitation and reintegration of the girls back into society”, he said.
He continued, “Long before the girls were released, the Federal Government had established the ‘Chibok Girls Desk’ in the ministry, responsible for acting on matters relating to the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, and serving as a channel of communication between relevant agencies and the parents and relatives of the abducted girls.
The statement reads in part:
“The government, through the ministry of women affairs and in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities,UNFPA, UN Women, and other donor agencies, embarked on programmes earmarked to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of the Chibok girls with a nine-month time frame.
“A hostel in the National Centre for Women Development was converted into a suitable shelter, where the girls were kept for the nine-month period. The programme, which began in January 2017, ended in September 2017. During the period, the 106 girls were given lessons in English, mathematics, Biology, Agriculture, and Civic Education. In addition, they were trained in ICT and vocational skills. Professionals were engaged to provide them with psychosocial therapy and one-on-one counselling to help them overcome post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). They were also provided with religious instruction and comprehensive care by two in-house doctors and two nurses. Periodic visits from the girls’ parents to stimulate family support and reunion were sponsored and organised by the ministry.
“Having successfully achieved the desired goals of the rehabilitation and reintegration programme, with recorded significant improvement in the academic performance of the girls, in September, a final send-off party was organised for the 106 Chibok girls and they were subsequently moved to the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola for their foundation studies and continuation of their education. The AUN had successfully established a foundation school for 14 out of the 57 Chibok girls who escaped while the rest of their classmates were taken to the Sambisa forest by Boko Haram.
“The absorption of the 106 girls into the school marked the beginning of their integration into the larger Nigerian society, thus fulfilling President Buhari’s promise of providing the best education for them. Although they have been officially handed over to their parents, the federal government will continue to be responsible for the payment of the Chibok girls’ school fees right up to their graduation from the school.