By Ene Osang
Abuja
The UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women, Ms. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngouka, has called on International organisations, civil society groups and the media to be steadfast in their efforts towards the release of the abducted schoolgirls.
Ngouka made the call yesterday in Abuja when she led a delegation on a solidarity visit to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
She condemned the abduction of over 200 girls from their school, describing the act as a violation of human rights, while calling for their safe and speedy release.
“We are ready to support the Nigerian government in its efforts towards rescuing the girls. We will also collaborate with the government to ensure the girls are re-integrated back to school when they return, to ensure that their education is not compromised.”
Similarly, the UN Women boss during a solidarity visit to the Federal Government Girls College in Abaji area council, in company of the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, said the girl-child education was the best achievement that any nation could have in the 21st century.
She said the girls in Nigeria deserved the best in education, security, health and social services, to guaranty their proper development in the society.
The UN envoy said the international community, especially the UN System, was encouraged by the religious and traditional leaders in Nigeria who came out to condemn what she described as “a heinous crime.”
She further assured the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development that all counterpart Ministers of Women Affairs worldwide, especially in Africa, were fully behind the Minister of Women Affairs “in this trying time.”
Speaking, Hajiya Maina said Nigerians, especially parents, had been saddened by the incident.
She said despite all the happenings, the federal government was not discouraged in securing the safe release of the abducted girls.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. MacJohn Nwabiala, who represented the Minister of Education, commended the UN women for visiting Nigeria, adding that priority had been given to girl-child education in terms of policies and programmes.
Principal of the school, Mrs Nkem Uzowulu, hailed the visit, saying that it was a great encouragement to the girls as they were always excited whenever they were visited by role models.