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THE wife of the President, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, on Sunday presented about N30m cash support to parents of the abducted students of the Government Secondary School, Chibok, in Borno State.
Buhari, represented by Hajiya Nana Shettima, the wife of the Borno State governor, presented the cash to the parents of the girls at a ceremony in Maiduguri.
She explained that the gesture was aimed at assisting the parents with some financial support towards alleviating their sufferings.
“Today’s presentation was in fulfilment of the promise I made earlier in the year during my book launch in Abuja.
“I made a promise that the proceeds will be used to better the lives of women and victims of insurgency in the North-East,’’ she said.
She urged the beneficiaries to invest the money in productive ventures, so that it can better their living conditions.
“This money is not a sort of compensation, but a kind of support for those in need.
“Our immediate prayer is for God to help trace and rescue the abducted girls so that they can be safely re-united with their families,’’ Buhari said.
She commended the military for their efforts in fighting the Boko Haram terrorists and expressed optimism that the search for the abducted girls would soon yield dividends.
The News Agency of Nigeria, reported that each of the 215 parents was given a cash of N139,000 during the event.
Also speaking, Mrs. Pauline Taline, a former deputy governor in Plateau State, said that the gesture was a goodwill from the wife of the President to the parents.
“This is a goodwill support from Her Excellency, Mrs. Muhammadu Buhari, to the parents of the abducted girls.
“We appeal to them to put the money into proper usage, either by investing it in farming or any other business venture,’’ Taline said.
It will be recalled that 219 Government Secondary School, Chibok, were abducted on April 14, 2014 by suspected Boko Haram terrorists while writing their SSCE at the school.
Also, Aisha Buhari on Sunday distributed food items to the less privileged persons in Nasarawa State. — NAN
