Mrs Buhari with the Chibok girls

The wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, on Wednesday pledged her support in the resettlement of the recently rescued Chibok school girls.

She also advised them to forget the past and acquire skills to be self-reliant.

Aisha made these remarks during her meeting with the 82 freed Chibok school girls in Abuja. She was accompanied by the Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Minister of Women’s Affairs, Sen. Jummai Alhassan.

Also at the meeting were the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dr Hajo Sani, and some wives of state governors.

Aisha urged the girls to also focus on their education as soon as they were reintegrated into the society.

“When you were away, we cried and prayed with your parents for your safe return,” she said.

“It gladdens my heart that after years of hoping, crying and praying, 82 of our Chibok daughters are out of captivity. I am still hopeful that the rest of the abducted girls will also return safe and sound, ” she said.

Aisha, who prayed for the safe return of the remaining girls, assured them that their future would be bright and presented gifts to them.

The wife of the president expressed gratitude to relevant agencies involved in the release of the girls.

On her part, the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, expressed her happiness for the safe return of the girls.

Senator Alhassan, the Women’s Affairs minister, said that the girls would be reintegrated back to the society after they had undergone psycho-therapy.

Alhassan also said that the government made provision for skill acquisition for the girls to enable them earn a decent living.

The minister thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his serious commitment towards the recovery of the girls.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed said: “What is paramount to us is the release of the remaining girls”.

The minister also assured the girls that in a matter of days, they would be reunited with their families.

“We will take care of you physically and psychologically,” he said.

Responding on behalf of her colleagues, Miss Rhoda Chibok, thanked the federal government for ensuring their safe return and appealed for the rescue of all Nigerians held in captivity by the insurgents.

(NAN)