The minister of women affairs and social development, Hajiya Aisha Jumai Alhassan said the 106 freed Chibok school girls currently undergoing psychological rehabilitation under the care of the federal government are fit and ready for school again, according to Dailytrust. She disclosed this in Abuja at the farewell dinner organised by the ministry marking the end of the eight-month-long rehabilitation period.
She stated that the girls would be enrolled for pre-degree programme in one of the best university in the country under the sponsorship of the federal government. “They are going to be in one of the best schools; the American University of Nigeria (AUN) where they will start a special foundation programmes like a pre-degree.”
She said that their fees had already been paid by government with support from UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA and other supporters including Afriphone and Airtel who supported the girls in various capacities, dailytrust reports.
The minister assured that the remaining abducted Chibok school girls will be released soon saying negotiation is in progress with their captors. "The Federal Government has never relented in the negotiation and I want to assure you that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I appeal to their captors to come to the table and negotiate so as to see reasons to release those in captivity,’’ she said.
She said that when the girls were released President Muhammadu Buhari told the world that the girls had seen the worst and he promised that they would be given the best.
“The government is fulfilling that promise as we all know; the girls have been at the rehabilitation centre for a long time. Since their release, we have been giving them therapy to make them understand that challenges are a part of life and whatever happens to one in life is God’s will.”
The Country Representative of UN Women, Ms Comfort Lamprey commended the efforts of government in ensuring the general well-being of the Chibok girls. She advised the Chibok girls to be responsible ambassadors in the North East even as they would go to their community, adding that the remaining Chibok girls would be released soon.
The Deputy Representative of UNICEF, Mrs Peinille Ironside said that the return to their community was a new chapter in their lives.
“Believe in yourself and the great potential embedded in you as a girls; we advocate for the peaceful return of others girls and boys in captive.”
She said that her organisation would be supporting the girls with their basic needs as they returned to school.
The Country Representative, United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA), Ms Diene Keita advised the girls to remain focus in their studies as they have bright future.
