ABUJA – President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday assured that the education of the abducted Chibok girls and those who escaped from their abductors would not be truncated.
The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, said President Jonathan gave the assurance when he met with parents and guardians of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Others at the meeting included 53 escaped Chibok girls, Sen. President David Mark, Service Chiefs, Inspector-General of Police and members of the Federal Executive Council.
According to the President, government will reconstruct the Government Secondary School, Chibok as well as other schools damaged by the insurgents.
“Mr President further assured them that after the battle has been won and the girls are safely back home he, together with the parents and the state government, will focus thereafter on development, on building Chibok, on rebuilding what the terrorists had tried to destroy and ensuring that every child either from Chibok or any part of the country has the opportunity to realise his or her dream to the fullest.
“And the girls should not have any fear about their future because every step will be taken to ensure their right to education is protected and guaranteed,’’ he said
The President stated that the escaped girls would be placed in other schools across the country to enable them to accomplish their careers.
Also speaking on the outcome of the meeting, the Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, said that the president listened to the parents, Chibok community leaders and the escaped girls. [eap_ad_2] He quoted Jonathan as assuring them of the continuation of their education and protection of their lives and property.
He also said that the parents were happy to listen to the president, who also assured them of the determination of government to rescue those still in captivity.
On whether 99 days was not too late for the president to meet with them, the minister noted that it was not a question of how long but what government was doing to address the situation.
“It is not a question of how many days, not a question of how long, is a question of what is being done.
“And as various government spokesmen have been saying, this is a very serious matter of security.
“Some people have called it a war and when you are talking of war and the strategies to win it, it is not all of those strategies that would be on the streets.
“I think that rather than counting the days and how long, we should be concerned with how much effort is being made and jointly pray for this struggle.’’
Shekarau expressed concern over what he described as ‘‘politicisation of the Chibok girls issue’’, saying that all Nigerians should support the government.
“I’m particularly more concerned when you are talking about girls.
“It happened in school, it happened to students so it is our concern that everything should be done for those now home to continue their education,’’ he added.(NAN)[eap_ad_3]