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abujagirl
Guest
Girl right activist, Malala Yousafzai, on Monday urged the federal government to do more to ensure the return of the missing Chibok school girls abducted by Boko Haram on April 14, 2014.
She made the appeal in an open letter issued by Girl Right Activist Mission in the United Nations to mark the one year anniversary since the Chibok girls were abducted from school.
She expressed her support and solidarity with the abducted Nigerian school girls.
She said: ''On this first anniversary of your captivity, I write to you a message of solidarity, love and hope. I am one of the millions of people around the world who keep you and your families foremost in our thoughts and prayers.
''We cannot imagine the full extent of the horrors you have endured. But please know this, we will never forget you. We will always stand with you today and every day; we call on the Nigerian authorities and the international community to do more to bring you home.
''We will not rest until you have been reunited with your families.’’
Yousafzai recalled that she was once a target of militants who did not want girls to attend school in her native country of Pakistan.
''Gunmen shot me and two of my friends on a school bus; all three of us survived and are back in school.
''Our campaign will continue until you and all girls and boys around the world are able to access a free, safe and quality secondary education,’’ she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Yousafzai visited Nigeria in July 2014, where she celebrated her 17th birthday with some parents and five classmates of the Chibok girls who escaped.
Referring to that visit, the Yousafzai in her letter to the missing Chibok girls said:
''Your parents are grief-stricken. They love you, and they miss you. My father and I wept and prayed with your parents and they touched our hearts. The escapee schoolgirls my father and I met impressed us with their resolve to overcome their challenges and complete their high school education.
''My father and I promised your parents and the girls who escaped that we would do all we could to help. I met President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and urged him to work harder for your freedom.
''I also asked President Jonathan to meet your parents and the girls who escaped the kidnapping, which he did a few days later. Still, in my opinion, Nigerian leaders and the international community have not done enough to help you.
''They must do much more to help secure your release. I am among many people pressuring them to make sure you are freed. There are reasons for hope and optimism. Nigerian forces are re-gaining territories and protecting more schools.
''Nigeria’s newly-elected president, Muhammadu Buhari, has vowed to make securing your freedom a top priority and promised his government will not tolerate violence against women and girls.
''You will have the opportunity to receive the education you want and deserve. The Malala Fund and other organisations offered all your classmates who escaped the kidnapping full scholarships to complete their secondary education.
''Most of the escapee girls accepted this scholarship and are now continuing their studies at a safe boarding school and with the support they need. We hope to someday extend that same scholarship to all 219 of you, when you return home.
''Remember that one day your tragic ordeal will end, you will be reunited with your families and friends and you will have the chance to finish the education you courageously sought.
''I look forward to the day I can hug each one of you, pray with you and celebrate your freedom with your families. Until then, stay strong, and never lose hope. You are my heroes,’’ the girl right activist said.
#Buhari #Malala #Chibok
She made the appeal in an open letter issued by Girl Right Activist Mission in the United Nations to mark the one year anniversary since the Chibok girls were abducted from school.
She expressed her support and solidarity with the abducted Nigerian school girls.
She said: ''On this first anniversary of your captivity, I write to you a message of solidarity, love and hope. I am one of the millions of people around the world who keep you and your families foremost in our thoughts and prayers.
''We cannot imagine the full extent of the horrors you have endured. But please know this, we will never forget you. We will always stand with you today and every day; we call on the Nigerian authorities and the international community to do more to bring you home.
''We will not rest until you have been reunited with your families.’’
Yousafzai recalled that she was once a target of militants who did not want girls to attend school in her native country of Pakistan.
''Gunmen shot me and two of my friends on a school bus; all three of us survived and are back in school.
''Our campaign will continue until you and all girls and boys around the world are able to access a free, safe and quality secondary education,’’ she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Yousafzai visited Nigeria in July 2014, where she celebrated her 17th birthday with some parents and five classmates of the Chibok girls who escaped.
Referring to that visit, the Yousafzai in her letter to the missing Chibok girls said:
''Your parents are grief-stricken. They love you, and they miss you. My father and I wept and prayed with your parents and they touched our hearts. The escapee schoolgirls my father and I met impressed us with their resolve to overcome their challenges and complete their high school education.
''My father and I promised your parents and the girls who escaped that we would do all we could to help. I met President Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria and urged him to work harder for your freedom.
''I also asked President Jonathan to meet your parents and the girls who escaped the kidnapping, which he did a few days later. Still, in my opinion, Nigerian leaders and the international community have not done enough to help you.
''They must do much more to help secure your release. I am among many people pressuring them to make sure you are freed. There are reasons for hope and optimism. Nigerian forces are re-gaining territories and protecting more schools.
''Nigeria’s newly-elected president, Muhammadu Buhari, has vowed to make securing your freedom a top priority and promised his government will not tolerate violence against women and girls.
''You will have the opportunity to receive the education you want and deserve. The Malala Fund and other organisations offered all your classmates who escaped the kidnapping full scholarships to complete their secondary education.
''Most of the escapee girls accepted this scholarship and are now continuing their studies at a safe boarding school and with the support they need. We hope to someday extend that same scholarship to all 219 of you, when you return home.
''Remember that one day your tragic ordeal will end, you will be reunited with your families and friends and you will have the chance to finish the education you courageously sought.
''I look forward to the day I can hug each one of you, pray with you and celebrate your freedom with your families. Until then, stay strong, and never lose hope. You are my heroes,’’ the girl right activist said.
#Buhari #Malala #Chibok
