The Federal Government has graduated 18 Chibok schoolgirls from the first batch of its vocational skills acquisition programme, providing each beneficiary with starter packs and N1 million entrepreneurship grant.
The beneficiaries were trained in tailoring and catering services under the initiative aimed at supporting survivors’ economic empowerment and reintegration. The graduation ceremony was held in Yola, Adamawa State, where the girls received their business support packages.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, said 14 of the graduates were trained in tailoring, while four received training in catering services.
She disclosed that the next batch, comprising 33 Chibok girls, would also receive N1 million each as a business grant after completing their training and receiving starter packs.
The minister added that 12 other Chibok girls in the 2026 graduating class of the American University of Nigeria would receive the same entrepreneurship grant, while another 21 currently studying at the institution are expected to benefit after graduating in 2027.
She also announced support packages for the parents of the Chibok girls, including N200,000 each for 221 parents, eight deep freezers, 10 sewing machines, and three industrial machines to help them establish sustainable businesses.
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“We are working to ensure that every survivor has not only the opportunity to recover but also the platform to lead, innovate, and prosper,” Suleiman-Ibrahim said.
She urged the beneficiaries not to allow their past experiences to define them, encouraging them to focus on their future achievements.
“Your identity is not your pain; your identity is your purpose. The world once knew your story because of a heartbreaking event. From today, let the world know you because of your excellence, your achievements, your creativity, and your contributions,” she said.
The Adamawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Neido Kofulto, commended the Federal Government for rescuing the girls and providing them with opportunities to acquire skills.
Kofulto urged the beneficiaries to apply the skills they had gained with dedication and commitment to become self-reliant.
Similarly, the Managing Director of Modibbo Adama University Consultancy Services, Prof. Ibrahim Danjuma, congratulated the graduates, expressing optimism that they would become successful entrepreneurs and contribute to national development.
NAN
