AUN President: Closing Schools to Prevent Kidnapping Will Increase Out-of-school Children

Kuni Tyessi

The President of the American University of Nigeria, Yola, Dr Margee Ensign, says closing schools because of bandits will increase out-of-school children.

Ensign, who spoke in Abuja during an interview, regretted the low level of protection and security the government provides in schools. She noted that there would not be out-of-school children if the government made education a priority.
Emphasising that children have a right to go to school, Ensign disclosed that many kidnapped Chibok girls sent overseas have graduated and are doing well.

Speaking on the closure of schools due to bandits attacks, including kidnapping, the AUN president stated that schools might remain closed.
“We can’t lose any of those children to the streets. Who knows where the next leader of your country is? So I had the privilege of sitting last Monday with Mary and sisters from Chibok, and Mary was giving them advice about how to succeed in college,” she stated. “I couldn’t be on any university campus around the world and get advice about how to study hard.”

Ensign noted that education was instrumental in transforming personal lives and communities. She further explained that her interactions with some of the Chibok kidnapped students reinforced that belief.

“The other women, I went around and asked, where are you in your studies and what do you want to do? One said: ‘I am a third-year law student, and I want to be a lawyer to bring (about) justice in my country.’ One said, ‘I’m studying Environmental Science because I’m worried about our climate.’ Another said, ‘I’m studying Accounting so that I can stop corruption.’ Think of who is saying these. They were the ones who were kidnapped, and they are so focused,” disclosed AUN boss.

Ensign added, “We need to all keep focus so that no kids are kidnapped anymore. Where is the protection for these kids? They have a right to go to school. Until that happens, the schools will probably have to be closed, and we have to find a way to get them properly educated.”