#BringBackOurGirls: Malala Yousafzai arrives Nigeria, will meet escaped girls

by S’ola Filani

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Malala Yousafzai, the girls’ education campaigner who was shot by the Taliban, arrived Nigeria yesterday night to campaign for the release of the schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram in Chibok, Borno State on April 14.

Ms Yousafzai, who was an early backer of the #BringBackOurGirls social media campaign is scheduled to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan and escaped Chibok girls.

Malala, who is from Pakistan but moved to Birmingham last year, gained worldwide attention after surviving the brutal assassination attempt in October 2012 and has continued to campaign for women’s right across the globe to have an education ever since.

In a statement after her arrival in Nigeria, and ahead of what has become designated ‘Malala Day’ tomorrow, the schoolgirl said: “This Malala Day, I have come to Nigeria, to honour the stories of these brave girls who have sacrificed so much to get an education and achieve their dreams.

“Whether the schoolgirls still held in captivity by Boko Haram, to the school children caught in the crossfire of escalating violence in Gaza and Israel, to the 66 million girls today who can’t get the education that is their human right, my birthday wish this year is that we all raise our voices so that those without a voice can be heard.

“We can be stronger than fear, hatred, violence and poverty. The road to education, peace and equality is long, but we will succeed if we walk it together.”

Her visit to Nigeria takes place almost three months after the abduction of the girls and her presence is expected to mount increasing pressure on the Nigerian government.

The Jonathan administration has been accused by many of not doing enough to bring back the missing girls.

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