The girls of Nigeria deserve the best education and the best care and support."United Nations (ANTARA News/Xinhua-OANA) - UN Women Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka assured the Nigerians of UN support for girls education in the country during a recent visit, which is aimed at showing solidarity with the abducted schoolgirls and their families, a UN spokesperson said Monday.
Mlambo-Ngcukas visit came at a time when the education system in Nigeria falters amid fears of possible attacks on schools by Boko Haram, a group seeking to enshrine the Islamic Sharia law in the constitution.
During a visit to the Federal Government Girls College in the Nigerian town of Abaji, Mlambo-Ngcuka assured that the UN would work together to ensure that there is no setback for girls education in Nigeria, said Stephane Dujarric at a regular briefing.
About 270 girls from Chibok community in northeastern Nigerias Borno State were abducted in April by Boko Haram, who threatened to sell the girls in a video. Specialist teams from several countries are searching for the girls, but scant progress has been scored so far.
"We are going to be here and we will work with you to ensure that when the girls return they are consoled, and with their families they get the support they need. The girls of Nigeria deserve the best education and the best care and support," Mlambo- Ngcuka said.
Mlambo-Ngcuka also tried to assuage anxiety about the potential collapse of the education system in Nigeria and the fear among some Nigerian parents of sending their children to school.
The UN Population Fund said Monday that it will lead partners to provide psychosocial therapy to stabilize the parents of the victims in Nigeria and prepare them to offer the necessary assistance to their children once they are released.
(U.C003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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