Twelve of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram militants in 2014 will next Saturday graduate from the American University of Nigeria, Yola, in what the institution’s president has described as a global testament to resilience and the power of education.
The graduation, coming 12 years after the mass abduction that shocked the world, marks a significant milestone for the girls who escaped from captivity and subsequently enrolled at the university.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday on the university campus, AUN President Prof Dewayne Frazier said the occasion represented far more than an academic achievement.
“The graduation of several students who were formerly held captive in the Sambisa Forest symbolises more than academic achievement. It is a global testament to resilience, hope and the indomitable human spirit. Their journey from captivity to a university degree captured worldwide attention as a victory over adversity,” he said.
Frazier said the milestone validated AUN’s mission as a development university, demonstrating that the gap between trauma and high-level academic success could be bridged.
“These graduates now stand as beacons of light for the North-East and the world. Their success sends a powerful message, education is the most proven tool for healing and transformation, capable of reclaiming lives and building a brighter, more secure future for Nigeria,” he said.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs for sponsoring the girls’ education at the institution.
A total of 276 female students were abducted by Boko Haram militants from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, on the night of April 14, 2014.
Fifty-seven girls escaped on the night of the abduction, while over 180 others have since been freed or escaped over the following decade, many of them returning with children born during captivity.
As of early 2026, between 80 and 91 of the Chibok girls remain unaccounted for, with their whereabouts and fates still unknown.
The abduction triggered the global #BringBackOurGirls campaign, drawing widespread international attention and sustained pressure on the Nigerian government and security agencies to secure the release of the missing girls.
Some of those who have since returned reported that their peers still in captivity were forced into marriage with Boko Haram fighters and continued to be held in locations including the Sambisa Forest.
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