GAAT hails visit
By Ayoni M. Agbabiaka, Chizoba Ogbeche and Bode Olagoke, Abuja
Global girl education activist, Ms. Malala Yousafzai, has assured parents of the over 200 Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko haram that she would meet with President Goodluck Jonathan today to discuss ways of facilitating the girls’ safe release.
Malala, a United Nations ambassador of Pakistani origin, disclosed this yesterday during a brief statement at a meeting with some of the girls’ parents in Abuja.
Malala survived a Taliban bullet to the head on October 9, 2012, an incident that inspired the world after.
In April 2013, Time magazine named featured Malala on its cover and named her one of “The 100 Most Influential People in the World”.
The Pakistani Taliban is still said to be after her, nearly one year after she was almost murdered by the group for defying a ban on female education.
She arrived Nigeria on Saturday on a three-day visit as part of the international support for Nigeria’s effort to rescue the abducted students of Government Secondary School, Chibok, Borno state.
Malala told the Chibok parents that she felt for them and and their daughters.
Some of the parents said the youngster’s visit had inspired and renewed their hope that their daughters would return to them alive some day.
They, however, called on the government to do everything possible to bring back their girls alive, just like Malala.
One of the parents, Mrs Rebecca Samuel, said: “I feel happy seeing Malala speaking with us, but she should speak with our president; we know that our president will take the action really.
“Malala has told us that she would speak with the president on how to bring back the girls.”
Giving her experience without her 17-year-old daughter, Rebecca, said she “feels bad” that her first child was among those being held by the militant sect.
Another parent, Mr. Samuel Yaga, 37, blamed the government for its “nonchallant attitude” towards rescuing the girls.
He said many people were worried about the decision of the president not visit Chibok.
He said: “This Malala is from Pakistan, we are grateful that she has come to us in Nigeria.
“Many people are worried about the girls. Malala has told us that she will talk to the president to bring our girls back.
“As this thing happened we did not see president or the vice president (visiting). This is because we are poor people. If only we are rich they would have brought back our girls for us.”
Coordinator of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign, Adisa, said there would be sustained advocacy about the campaign, adding, “There is a Malala Day tomorrow where she will give her annual Malala speech.”
The high point of yesterday’s event was when Malala’s father cried and prayed for the girls’ safe return.
The National information Centre (NIC) yesterday clarified that Malala is coming under the auspices of the United Nations observance of the Malala Day, which is meant to ask children “to stand up for education”.
In a press statement, the centre said as part of her visit, the rights activist would also have audience with the Ministers of Education; Women Affairs and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, who oversees the Safe School Programme of the federal government.
It further disclosed that Malala had yesterday met with members of the NIC led by Mr. Mike Omeri, where she was updated on the government’s efforts to stem insurgency in parts of the country and especially efforts at the safe return of the Chibok girls.
The federal government, the centre said, “welcomes the visit of this icon of educational rights for the girl child and young women.
“It hopes that this will join in further drawing world support to Nigeria and its government’s effort to ensure the safe return of the Chibok girls and global campaign against terror.
“The federal government reiterates its determination to promote the right to education of all children in the country in line with various international commitments to which it is a signatory.”
Meanwhile, one of the groups championing calls for the release of the schoolgirls, the Grand Alliance Against Terrorism (GAAT), has commended Malala for the visit.
Its Secretary-General, Ms. Atoye Ariyo-Dare, who addressed a press conference yesterday at the Unity Fountain in Abuja, urged Malala and other international stakeholders to support Nigeria in its fight against terrorism.
She said: “We trust in God that our girls will come back home.
“However, since Boko Haram has keyed into global terrorism, we need international support to block foreign support to the insurgents and overcome terrorism.
“We are urging all Nigerians to join in the crusade to achieve a national consensus in the fight against terrorism and make our society a peaceful one. Security is everybody’s business; we must support our security agencies and the government to overcome insurgency.”
The group decried the methods being employed by certain individuals, groups and organisations “that are creating unnecessary tension in the nation at a time when national unity should be at its peak.”