The Federal Government has approved a fresh allocation of ₦1,854,277,768 to sustain the education and rehabilitation of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in 2014.

In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Education said the fund, part of the Chibok Girls Intervention Programme, will cover tuition, accommodation, vocational training, psychosocial support, and other services for the rescued girls up until 2027.

The Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, quoted the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as saying the initiative reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises safeguarding the education and future of Nigerian children.

“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government is ensuring that the rescued 108 girls entrusted to the care of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs continue to receive comprehensive rehabilitation and academic support,” the statement read.

Currently, 68 of the rescued girls are studying at the American University of Nigeria (AUN), Yola, owned by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. The ministry clarified that payments for tuition and accommodation at the institution will continue despite criticisms, stressing that uninterrupted education for the girls remains the government’s priority.

The statement urged Nigerians and political leaders to rally behind the effort. “This commitment is not only financial, it is moral. It represents Nigeria’s pledge to turn a dark chapter in our nation’s history into a story of resilience, dignity, and hope,” it added.

On April 14, 2014, Boko Haram abducted 276 girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State. While many have since been rescued, 87 are still believed to remain in captivity 11 years later.

The new allocation is designed to sustain ongoing rehabilitation programmes, ensuring the rescued girls have access to education, vocational skills, and psychosocial care needed to rebuild their lives.