Buhari Approves N164.7m School Fees For Chibok Girls In Atiku’s University

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sum of N164.7 million to pay the second semester school fees of the freed 106 Chibok girls in the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, Adamawa State owned by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.

This was revealed  in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, saying the President had expressed satisfaction over the progress made in the rehabilitation of the girls.

According to him, Buhari expressed his feelings while reviewing progress report on the affected girls which was submitted to the President in line with his commitment to personally monitor the rehabilitation and reintegration into society of the freed Chibok girls.

Shehu said the President also assured that the Federal Government would continue to provide full support for their education.

“The President has approved payment of the sum of N164,763,759 million (one hundred and sixty four million, seven hundred and sixty-three naira) for the second semester school fees of the 106 Chibok girls at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola,” the statement read.

“According to the progress report received by the President, the decision to pursue avenues in addition to military action to free the abducted girls is in the resolve to protect the lives of all Nigerians.

“To end the insurgency in the northeast of the country, and to fulfill one of the campaign promises of the President. In line with this, the Federal Government entered into negotiations with the Boko Haram terrorist group for the release of the Chibok girls who were kidnapped from their school dormitory on the night of April 14, 2014.

“So far, two batches of 21 and 82 girls have been freed as a result of those negotiations. Three additional girls were rescued by the gallant efforts of our armed forces, bringing the total number of freed Chibok girls so far to 106.”

Shehu noted that as a result of their experiences while in captivity, the freed girls were severely traumatised and afflicted by various ailments and injuries. He stated that the girls were taken to secured medical centres for attention.

“They also went through debriefing and de-radicalisation by security operatives, after which the girls were handed over to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development,” he continued.

“The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development was assigned the main role in supervising the rehabilitation and reintegration of the girls back into society.

“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 media aide said that the ministry of women affairs, in collaboration with the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA), UN Women, and other donour agencies, embarked on programmes earmarked to facilitate the rehabilitation and reintegration of the Chibok girls with a nine-month time frame.

“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.

“They were subsequently moved to the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola for their foundation studies and continuation of their education.

“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 school,” Shehu said.