Twelve of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram on April 14, 2014, have graduated from the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa State. They were part of the 17th convocation ceremony of the institution, which began on Saturday, 9 May. The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, was represented at the event by the Executive Secretary of the National University Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu. He stated that the graduation of the 12 girls has raised hope for women's education in Nigeria and beyond. Shettima commended AUN for creating a conducive environment that enabled the girls to earn their degrees.
Dewayne Frazier, President of AUN, said the graduation validates the university's mission as a development-focused institution. He stated that it proves high-level educational success is possible even after severe trauma. "These graduates now stand as beacons of light for the Northeast and the world. Their success sends a powerful message: education is the most proven tool for healing and transformation, capable of reclaiming lives and building a brighter, more secure future for Nigeria," Frazier said. He acknowledged the Ministry of Women Affairs for sponsoring the girls' education at AUN.
On the night of April 14, 2014, 276 girls were abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok by Boko Haram militants. Dozens escaped in the immediate aftermath or were released in the following years. Over 180 of the girls have since been freed or escaped, many of them appearing with children born during captivity. Between 80 and 90 of the abducted schoolgirls remain missing more than a decade after the mass kidnapping.
Kashim Shettima celebrates the education of 12 Chibok girls while over 80 others remain unaccounted for more than ten years after their abduction. The government's sponsorship of some does not explain its failure to secure all. AUN's claim of transformation through education rings hollow for the families still waiting. The spotlight on 12 graduates should not obscure the state's long silence on the rest.
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