BLOG: Education Activists Malala Yousafzai in Abuja to meet President Jonathan and the Families of abducted Girls

Sunday 13 July 2014

Education Activists Malala Yousafzai in Abuja to meet President Jonathan and the Families of abducted Girls

Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani pupil activist and United Nations Ambassador is now in Abuja, Nigeria, to show her solidarity for the missing Chibok School Girls. She's expected to meet with President Jonathan tomorrow Monday July 14th, as well as families of some of the abducted girls. The 17 year old girls’ education campaigner, arrived Abuja early sunday morning, saying, “We must not be silent”. The renowned girl child education campaigner Malala Yousafzai who turns 17th, on July 12 but instead of being anywhere in the world to celebrate, she chose to come to Nigeria. The Pakistani girl was shot by Taliban a few years ago for campaigning for girl child education. Read more and see some pics after the cut....

It was gathered by the Nation Newspaper that her visit is part of the effort to project the $100million Safe Schools Initiative Project which was launched at the last World Economic Forum (WEF).

A reliable source familiar with the arrangement said: “There is a proposal to bring Malala because her story will assist to bring dropouts back to schools. We are expecting her on Saturday night.

“With her activism against the Taliban in Pakistan, we can re-awaken the CAN DO spirit in our people, especially those being ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency.

“Many Nigerians are ready to listen to her inspiring story. We hope she will be able to come to this country.”

“The 17-year old activist has offered to be in Nigeria from Sunday, July13, 2014 to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan, some parents of the abducted 223 girls from Chibok and BringBack-OurGirls campaigners.'' added by another source

“In fact, she said she cannot be part of the BringBackOurGirls Campaign without visiting Nigeria. She said if it means being abducted by Boko Haram, she is prepared to visit Nigeria.

“She was being expected as I am talking to you. She is likely to meet some interest groups.

“What we have done is to ensure her security including her daring insistence to be part of the sit out by BringBackOurGirls campaigners.”

BBC News John Simpson meets Malala in Abuja.

Although no government official was willing to talk on the planned trip of Malala, it was gathered that security had been beefed up at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport as at press time.

Malala was born on July 12, 1997 in the town of Mingora in the Swat District of Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

Her visit will complement the Safe Schools Initiative Project in the country.

President Jonathan had on Wednesday decried the high percentage of school dropouts in Nigeria, saying the rate, which is as high as 70 per cent in some parts of the country, was “too high”.