Decade after, two abducted Chibok girls excited as they graduate from US varsities

More than a decade after their freedom from the clutches of the dreaded Boko Haram terrorists, Patience Bulus and Mercy Ali Paul have graduated from higher institutions in the United States of America.

Persecondnews reports that after their lucky escape from the Boko Haram menace in 2014, the young girls took advantage of the opportunity offered by the Murtala Muhammed Foundation (MMF) and Victims Support Fund (VSF) for them to continue their education in the United States.

Miss Bulus got a degree in American Gender Studies and Religion from Dickinson College, while Miss Paul received an Associate Degree in Social Science from Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA).

The founder and CEO of MMF, Mrs. Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode, stated that the abduction of 276 schoolgirls more than 10 years ago from their boarding school in Chibok, Borno State, signaled the urgency of action to secure education for girls in Nigeria.

Muhammed-Oyebode said: “We celebrate Patience and Mercy’s achievements today as a powerful example of resilience and their determination not to be defined by the past but focused on the future.”

Sharing the story of her journey, Ali Paul said: “Graduating feels like a dream I never thought would come true. Ten years ago, I was just hoping to survive the nightmare of abduction…I finally escaped and became determined to reclaim my life.

“I knew education was the key to rebuilding my future, and now with this diploma, I feel empowered.”

Bulus said walking across the stage is more than just receiving a diploma; she said it is a testament to perseverance and the power of community support.

“Today is proof that, with perseverance and support, we can overcome even the most harrowing experiences.”