President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Thursday, march 5, 2015 laid the foundation stone for the rebuilding of Government Secondary School Chibok, which was destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents when they marauded the school, abducting over 200 schoolgirls in April 2014.
Okonjo-Iweala, who was flanked by Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Alhami Sani Sidi, Air Commodore Charles Otegbede and other dignitaries said the current administration is poised to root out the insurgents from the country and restore normalcy in the lives of the affected areas.
She said: “We sympathise with the Chibok community. We know what you are going through. But I want to assure you that we are working day and night to make sure that life returns to normal both in your community and all others affected by terrorism.
“This administration promised to rebuild the Government Secondary School in Chibok which was destroyed by terrorists. Today, I am laying the foundation for the remodelling and reconstruction of this school.
“We want our students to go back to school. We want them to get the education they need to live a decent life. We will support them and we will do everything we can to support their parents and the entire community.
“We will also not forget the Chibok girls. We are working hard to ensure that they return home. As a father, I can feel the pain of the parents. What happened was tragic. But I want you to know that this administration cares. We will not abandon our children. We are with you.”
The rebuilt school is expected to have a state of the art library and laboratory, computer and ICT Centre, a sports arena and a clinic and a gatehouse and observation post to ensure security.
The school will also run on solar power, will have a water reservoir, a new administrative block and a new staff accommodation as the previous one was destroyed by the insurgents.
The principal of the school, Hajiya Asabe Ali Kwambula, stated that the occasion marked the happiest day in her life, thanking the federal Government for the gesture.
