Journalist honors Chibok girls as 12 graduate at AUN commencement

The American University of Nigeria (AUN) celebrated a momentous occasion with its 17th commencement ceremony, where 261 students, including 12 former Chibok schoolgirls, received their degrees. This event, marked by a powerful commencement speech from veteran journalist Stephanie Busari, underscores AUN's commitment to providing education as a pathway to recovery and empowerment.

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You did not arrive here by accident. You kept making the decision to continue when stopping would have been easier.

Busari's address resonated deeply as she acknowledged the personal struggles of all graduates while paying special tribute to the Chibok girls. Their journey from abduction by Boko Haram in 2014 to earning university degrees is a profound testament to their resilience and the enduring power of education. The university president, DeWayne Frazier, eloquently described their graduation as a "sacred moment of triumph over fear, resilience over trauma, and hope over everything that once tried to silence their future."

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At the time, we did not know if the work would make any difference. We did it because the alternative was silence, and silence felt like complicity.

For Nigeria, and particularly for the communities affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, the graduation of these young women is more than an academic achievement; it is a symbol of hope and a victory against extremism. It demonstrates that even in the face of unimaginable trauma, education can provide a path forward, allowing survivors to reclaim their narratives and build brighter futures. This story is covered differently here because it directly confronts the ongoing impact of terrorism and highlights the strength of the human spirit in overcoming it.

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You were taken from your hostel in the middle of the night by people who believed your education was a threat worth eliminating. What they failed to understand is that once that power takes root in a person, it cannot be removed by force.

Stephanie Busari's personal connection to the Chibok girls' story, having covered their tragedy and eventual release, added an emotional layer to the ceremony. Her words, emphasizing that the girls are now "authors of what comes next," powerfully convey the message that their past does not define their future. AUN, with its mission to build leaders, has once again proven its vital role in fostering such transformations.

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For many years, our cry was ‘Bring Back Our Girls’, but today, we send our ‘girls’ forward.