Patience Bulus and Mercy Ali Paul, survivors of the 2014 Boko Haram mass abductions in Chibok, Borno State, have achieved a significant milestone by graduating from colleges in the United States of America (U.S.A).
Miss Bulus earned her degree in Gender Studies from Dickinson College, while Miss Paul graduated with an associate degree in Social Science from Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA).
Their journey to graduation was made possible through a partnership between the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) and Victims Support Fund (VSF), which provided full scholarships and personal growth opportunities for the rescued Chibok girls to pursue higher education in the U.S.
Miss Bulus was also honored as an Honourable Member of the National Society of Leadership and Success at Dickinson College in 2021.
At Miss Bulus’s graduation ceremony in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Mrs. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, emphasized the importance of providing education opportunities for girls in conflict-affected communities like Chibok. She called for immediate action at local and global levels to ensure access to quality education for victims, enabling them to build self-reliance.
“The abduction of 276 schoolgirls 10 years ago from their boarding school signalled the urgency of action to secure education for girls in Nigeria,” Mrs. Muhammed-Oyebode stated. “As an organization dedicated to advancing positive education and social outcomes for women, we celebrate Patience and Mercy’s achievements today as a powerful example of resilience.”
The graduates, in turn, encouraged other girls not to give up and advocated for girls’ rights and education worldwide.
The Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) is a non-profit organization focused on promoting self-reliance and fulfillment by addressing issues such as ethics, equity, good governance, and economic empowerment.
The Presidential Committee on Victims Support Fund (PCVSF) was established in July 2014 in response to the Boko Haram insurgency, providing non-military assistance to victims of terror activities.
