Four Chibok girls matriculate at American varsity

Academy offers scholarship to 200 orphaned by Boko Haram

Since they escaped from their captors in 2014, 24 Chibok girls have been on the American University of Nigeria scholarship studying under a special preparatory programme.

However, a new vista of life was opened to four of them recently, as they were formally accepted into the university as students, during the 2016 Convocation and Pledge ceremony.

Also among the new students were those accepted from assorted applications for the maiden class of AUN’s new School of Law that kicked off this semester. The school’s law programme uniquely offers concentrations in Humanitarian, Gender and Environmental Laws.

In addition, several university graduates pursuing various postgraduate programmes; among whom were18 winners of the 67 AUN scholarships. Several other intakes were transferring from other universities in Ghana, Lebanon, Egypt, the United States and some European countries.

According to Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, AUN, Dan Okereke, apart from the novelty of admitting her first class of law students, the school admitted the largest number of undergraduates in a semester in the past three years, signaling a return to pre-insurgency admission figures.

President of the school, Margee Ensign announced that the type of education the new students will receive at AUN will ensure that students become leaders in their chosen fields, stressing that it would also “train you to look at problems from varying perspectives.

“All universities identify new problems, come up with new ideas. They discover new truths and some change society. At AUN, Africa’s first Development University, this is what we are trying to accomplish,” she stated adding, “We not only provide you with a different sort of education, we provide you with the intellectual tools to become the future leaders of Africa.”

In another development, the Shuwa-Arab Development Association (SADA) in collaboration with Darussalam Science and Islamic Academy; have offered scholarships to 200 orphans, who lost their parents during Boko Haram insurgency in Borno state.

The scholarships, according to the sponsors, are for both primary and secondary education.Presenting the scholarship in Maiduguri, Chairman of SADA, Alhaji Tom Magira, said the 200 Boko Haram orphans, had dropped out of school or lost one or both parents to the six-year insurgency in Borno.

“There must be policy actions on how these Boko Haram orphans could be educated so that they can become useful citizens, and not take arms against the state…”Wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, who was represented by the wife of Governor Kashim Shettima, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, said that every child has a right to functional and effective education, adding that by this gesture, the 200 orphans would be given a sense of belonging.