A press release from the Office of the First Lady has revealed some stunning claims by the Head of National Office ,West African Examinations Coucil,WAEC Mr. Charles Eguridu. He,according to the statement ,told the “First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan that it enrolled 530 students for the examinations being written when the insurgents reportedly abducted more than 200 girls in the school.”
Also, Nigerian First Ladies at a meeting in Abuja have set up a six-man committee to invite key stakeholders “to shed light on the controversies surrounding the abduction saga”
Read the Press Release Below (Unedited):
OFFICE OF THE FIRST LADY
PRESS RELEASE
WAEC OPENS UP ON CHIBOK GIRLS’ SCHOOL; SAYS WE REGISTERED 530 MALE AND FEMALE STUDENTS FOR EXAMS
We are getting there – FIRST LADY
In what appears to be a lead into the resolution of the conflicting information about the
number of girls abducted by insurgents at the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno State, the West African Examination Council, WAEC last night told the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan that it enrolled 530 students for the examinations being written when the insurgents reportedly abducted more than 200 girls in the school.
The Head of WAEC National Office, Mr. Charles Eguridu was answering myriad of questions asked by Wives of State Governors, Female Legislators at Federal and State levels, and Leaders of various Women Organizations who converged in Abuja at the invitation
of the First Lady to strategize on the best ways to ensure the release of the abducted Children.
Dame Patience Jonathan had expressed her concern and frustration over the security situation
in the country, particularly the abduction of school girls in Chibok, Borno State.
Mr. Eguridu said WAEC was initially reluctant to conduct examination in the area because of the security challenges but had to, when the State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima assured the council in writing that adequate security would be provided.
He said in contrary to the widespread belief, Chibok Government Secondary School is a
mixed institution which necessitated the enrollment of 135 males out of the total 350 registered for the examination. After the incident he explained, 189 students were relocated to Uba examination center where they are continuing with the examinations.
Mr. Eguridu to the First Lady, the enrollment list and the passport photographs of the
registered students for Chibok secondary school examination center.
The Borno State Commissioner of Women Affairs, Hajia Inna Galadima who stood in for the Wife of the Governor, Nana Shettima also told the meeting that 53 girls are currently in custody of the State Government.
This prompted more questions from the women who wanted to know how many students slept in the hostel that night, why only the girls, why the principal withdrew after giving
information that soldiers rescued some of the girls and whether it is true that the girls are being married out.
Arising from the comments, observations and issues raised, a six member committee to be chaired by wife of Borno State Governor, Hajia Nana Shettima was set up with mandate to
invite:
1) The Principal of the school
2) 2 teachers from the School
3) Chairman and Secretary of PTA of the School
4) 2parents whose children are still missing
5) 2 Parents whose children escaped
6) 2 of the students that escaped
7) The Commissioner of Police in Borno and the DPO covering Chibok to shed light on the controversies surrounding the abduction saga on Sunday may 4, 2014 after which the women may undertake a demand for release march to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State.
The First Lady said the women of Nigeria are determined to get to the root of the matter.
The invitees are to meet with the First Lady and the women in an enlarged meeting on Sunday May 4, 2014.
Signed
Ayo Adewuyi
Media Assistant,
Office of the First Lady
FRN
May 3, 2014.
