Minister of Women Affairs & Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen, and the reigning Miss Nigeria, Chidinma Aaron, paid a courtesy visit to the New Foundation School (NFS) on Thursday, November 28, 2019.
Assistant Vice President, Foundation Programs, Reginald T. Braggs, narrated how, when, and why the program was initiated in 2014. The mandate of the Chibok girls' education initiative (otherwise called NFS) is to provide a holistic education for the terrorist attack survivors so they attain their academic goals of a university degree while simultaneously receiving social, emotional, psychological, and health support.
"Out of the first 24 girls, 15 are studying in the university now; while the second batch of 106 is progressively improving to reach that goal."
Vice President for University Relations, Dr. Abba Tahir, who represented President Dekle at the event, told the minister about the uniqueness of AUN being her first time in the University. He then reassured her that AUN will do everything possible to ensure the Chibok girls' success.
"At AUN, we focus on the future rather than creating job seekers like most other Nigerian universities."
The American system of education focuses on critical thinking, hands-on learning, and entrepreneurship to produce job creators.
"The computer age has created millions of job opportunities and it has also consumed millions by reducing the workload of supposed five people to one or two."
Minister Tallen encouraged the girls to strive hard towards attaining great heights in life.
"Education is the best asset anyone can give a child; if you have been equipped with the education you have been equipped for life."
Miss Nigeria was very delighted to know that in Nigeria there's an institution like AUN that prepares students for self-reliance, community development, and entrepreneurship.
She affirmed that AUN has made a positive impact on the Chibok girls, who have risen from grass to grace. She left the girls with some words of inspiration.
"Always believe that you are kind, intelligent, and creative and that you can do it. You can be the president if that's what you dream to be."
An NFS student, Glory, whose ambition is to become a lawyer, thanked the minister and her entourage for their love and support.
Another NFS student, Maryam, said she would work harder to scale through the standard of NFS to proceed to study mass communication at AUN.
"We will not let you down; we shall make you proud."
Reported by Rofiat Adekunle