In a heartwarming milestone, a dozen young women who were once among the abducted Chibok schoolgirls have achieved a significant academic feat. These 12 individuals successfully completed their degree programs at the American University of Nigeria (AUN) in Yola, marking a powerful turn in their life stories. The news was met with joy by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who shared his elation on Saturday over their graduation.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, also lauded the accomplishment, emphasizing that hardship does not define one’s destiny when proper measures are implemented. These women were part of the group seized from their school in Chibok over a decade ago, but after regaining their freedom, they were enrolled at AUN with support from the Federal Government.
During AUN’s 17th convocation ceremony for the Class of 2026, Vice President Shettima, through his representative Professor Abdullahi Ribadu, acknowledged that the Chibok abduction remains a painful national memory. However, he noted that the graduation of these 12 girls offers a measure of redemption. He praised AUN, founded by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, for maintaining rigorous academic expectations for these students.
Shettima assured the graduates that the nation’s commitment to them continues. Similarly, the Minister of Women Affairs pledged ongoing government support, stating that significant investments have been made since the girls’ recovery and will persist. Although hundreds of students graduated, the spotlight naturally fell on the Chibok survivors, two of whom expressed their delight in interviews.
Professor DeWayne Frazier, President (Vice Chancellor) of AUN, described the moment as sacred—a triumph of courage over fear, resilience over trauma, and hope over adversity. These 12 graduates walked across the stage in a powerful display of victory, silencing the forces that once sought to destroy their futures.