President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the education and rehabilitation of the rescued Chibok schoolgirls, approving a total of ₦1.85 billion to sustain their academic and welfare support through 2027.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Federal Ministry of Education revealed that ₦1,854,277,768 has so far been committed to covering tuition, accommodation, vocational training, psychosocial support, medical care, and parental assistance.
“Mr. President has continued to approve the payment of tuition, accommodation, and associated fees to AUN [American University of Nigeria] to safeguard the education of these young women,” the statement said. “The Federal Government has committed the sum of ₦1,854,277,768 to complete the Chibok Girls Intervention Programme, covering tuition, accommodation, vocational training, psychosocial care, and other support up to 2027.”
Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, represented by Minister of State, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, described the government’s continued support for the girls as both a financial and moral obligation. He praised President Tinubu for prioritizing their education and well-being above political considerations.
“This commitment is not only financial; it is moral,” said Sununu. “It represents Nigeria’s pledge to turn a dark chapter in our nation’s history into a story of resilience, dignity, and hope. The education of Nigerian children transcends partisan politics. Mr. President has demonstrated true statesmanship by ensuring that even those studying in institutions owned by his fiercest critics are not deprived of education and rehabilitation.”
The intervention programme also includes vocational starter kits, child and parental support, surgical care, travel logistics, and enrollment in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Monitoring and evaluation of the girls’ academic progress will continue over the next three years, the Ministry confirmed.
“This is about fulfilling a moral responsibility to ensure that these girls, once victims of terror, are given the tools to rebuild their lives,” the statement added.
More than a decade has passed since 276 girls were abducted by Boko Haram insurgents from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State, in April 2014. The mass kidnapping sparked the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign, which drew international attention and advocacy from figures such as Michelle Obama and Malala Yousafzai.
While many of the girls either escaped or were released in phases, 108 remain under the care of the Federal Government. Of these, 68 are currently enrolled at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola.
Despite numerous rescue efforts, 82 girls are still unaccounted for. In 2024, one of the missing girls, Lydia Simon, was rescued after spending 10 years in captivity. Advocacy groups and parents continue to urge the government to intensify search and rescue operations to bring the remaining girls home.
