Twelve girls abducted from Chibok in 2014 have completed their university education at the American University of Nigeria in Yola, Adamawa State, marking a significant moment in their long recovery journey.
The graduation ceremony held on Saturday was attended by dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu. He described the development as proof that education remains central to rebuilding lives affected by conflict and insecurity.
University officials said the achievement reflects the institution’s commitment to supporting students who have faced trauma, adding that the graduates now stand as examples of resilience and determination.
The school girls were among 276 abducted in 2014 from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State by militants of Boko Haram. While many have since been released or escaped, dozens are still reported missing years after the incident.
Education advocates at the event said their graduation sends a strong message about hope, recovery, and the importance of continued investment in girls’ education, especially in regions affected by conflict.
The milestone has been widely viewed as a rare positive development in one of Nigeria’s most tragic kidnapping cases.