President Muhammadu Buhari has renewed his commitment to bring back all
the Chibok girls held by terrorists operating in the North-east using all
possible means, just as he expressed appreciation of the progress made in the
rehabilitation the 106 freed girls now back in school.
The president, who was 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, also gave assurances that
government will provide full support for their education.
In line with, the president has approved payment of N164,763,759 (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 in Yola.
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 North-east of the country, and to fulfil 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.
As a result of their experiences while in captivity, the freed girls
were severely traumatised and afflicted by various ailments and injuries.
Hence, they were taken to secure 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.
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 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.
Source: Premium Times
