POLITICAL Economy

FG Disburses ₦128.2m To Rescued Chibok Girls

by admin on | 2026-08-04 10:49:52

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FG Disburses ₦128.2m To Rescued Chibok Girls

By Ahmad Sirajo Makama

The Federal Government has distributed starter packs and entrepreneurship grants worth ₦128.2 million to 18 rescued Chibok schoolgirls who completed vocational skills training under its rehabilitation and empowerment programme.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim, presented the grants and starter packs during the graduation and close-out ceremony for the beneficiaries at the Centre for Consultancy Services, Modibbo Adama University, Yola.

The minister said each of the 18 graduates received a ₦1 million grant to establish a business, in addition to starter packs to support their chosen vocations.

She explained that 14 of the beneficiaries received training in tailoring, while four specialised in catering services.

Ibrahim also announced that another batch of 33 rescued Chibok girls would soon commence vocational skills acquisition training under the programme and would each receive a ₦1 million entrepreneurship grant and starter packs upon successful completion.

She further disclosed that 12 rescued Chibok girls who graduated from the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, in the institution’s 2026 graduating class, would also receive ₦1 million each to support their entrepreneurial pursuits.

The minister described the graduation as a major milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to restore hope and rebuild the lives of survivors of insurgency through education, skills acquisition and economic empowerment.

“This ceremony is not just about graduation; it is about restoring dignity, rebuilding confidence and creating opportunities for these young women to become self-reliant and productive members of society,” she said.

Ibrahim commended the resilience of the rescued girls for overcoming years of trauma and encouraged them to make prudent use of the grants and starter packs to build sustainable businesses and secure better futures.

She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable women and girls through programmes that promote education, economic independence and social inclusion.

The Chibok schoolgirls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents during a midnight attack on Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014.

The incident attracted global attention, widespread condemnation and renewed calls for urgent action to secure the unconditional release of the girls.

Over the years, many of the abducted girls have been rescued by the Nigerian military and enrolled in the Federal Government’s rehabilitation and empowerment programme implemented through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

While some were admitted to the American University of Nigeria, Yola, and have successfully graduated, others continue to receive educational and vocational support aimed at helping them rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society.

In their separate remarks, a beneficiary who spoke on behalf of her colleagues, Risikatu Solomon, and the Chairman of the Chibok Girls’ Parents Association, Yakubu Nkeki, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its support and intervention.