One of 276 girls abducted from their school in Chibok, northern Nigeria by the infamous Boko Haram has just graduated from university – the very thing her kidnappers fight to oppose, according to Open Doors UK & Ireland.
“Boko Haram roughly translates as ‘western education is forbidden’,” says Open Doors UK & Ireland CEO Henrietta Blyth.
“This is a powerful sign that young people across Nigeria want the chance of an education, and no amount of intimidation is going to change that, especially not the chance for girls.”
Mary Katambi is one of the 276 girls kidnapped by Boko Haram from the Chibok State Secondary School in April 2014, later escaping from the radical Islamic group. She completed her degree in Accounting at the American University (AUN) in Yola, Adamawa State. Her graduation ceremony took place this month at the university.
Mary’s parents and friends came to celebrate with her.
“Honestly, I never thought that my daughter would escape the hands of Boko Haram,” said Mary’s father Katambi. “As I watched Mary collect her certificate, tears dropped from my eyes. I never imagined that my children would ever study at university. I am just a peasant farmer, trying to provide for my family. But God did the unthinkable.
“I remember when our children were abducted in 2014, the world were praying along with us. We received encouragement cards and trauma healing from (Christian charity) Open Doors. Today I am here to testify that God has answered the prayers of his children.”
Saratu, her mother, said she shed tears of joy as she watched her daughter in her graduation gown. “I never thought I would see Mary again. But the prayers of believers have brought her out of captivity and now she has graduated from university. Yesu na gode – thank you Jesus!
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SOURCE: Assist News Service, Peter Wooding
