Malala Yousafzai
| credits: www.ft.com
| credits: www.ft.com
Two
days after ending her three-day visit to Nigeria, Pakistani girls’
education campaigner, Malala Yousafzai, has launched a petition seeking
international intervention for the release of the abducted Chibok girls.
The 17-year-old activist, who survived
assassination attempts by the Taliban extremist group, stated that she
wanted the global community to stand with the Nigerian girls and shame
those working to deny schoolgirls an education.
Malala, in the petition she hosted on change.org,
a go-to website for hosting online protests, reminded world leaders
that the abducted girls must get the assurances that “they are not
alone.”
As of Wednesday evening, Malala had
collected over 60,000 signatures from concerned individuals and groups
from different parts of the world, many of who demanded greater action
for the prompt rescue of the girls.
In the petition titled, “Stand with me
and the Nigerian girls,” the girls’ campaigner said the world must not
be silent “while our sisters in Nigeria and around the world are
targeted in this war on education.”
According to her, young girls from
different parts of the world have a right to an education adding that
the safe return of “our innocent sisters in Nigeria” must be at the
front burner.
“Show the world we are stronger than
those who deny schoolgirls an education. As strong and determined as we
are, we cannot do this on our own. These girls in Nigeria must know they
are not alone; we will not forget those still in captivity.
“We need you to stand with us. Sign this
petition to show you are with us, and that together we are stronger
than fear, oppression and violence. We are stronger than those who stand
in our way. Stand with us, and together we will win,” she wrote on the
petition.
According to many of those who signed
the petition, the missing girls must be found and brought home as their
present predicament is simply horrible.
One of the petitioners, Mary Stevens
from Guelph, Canada, said it was about time people stood up and did
something about the freedom of the girls.
“All people deserve an education and an
opportunity to grow in mind and spirit. We must all stand up and be
counted and support this petition. We will make a difference. I am
stronger than apathy,” she said.
First Lady of the United States,
Michelle Obama, hailed Malala for standing with the Chibok girls and
other schoolgirls being denied the opportunity to further their
education.
Writing on her official Twitter page,
Michelle stated, “Thank you Malala for inspiring girls around the world
to be stronger than adversity and pursue their education.”
Also, Co-chair of the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation, Melinda Gates, in a message on Twitter, stated that
she has drawn inspiration from Malala’s solidarity with the young girls
facing hardship with accessing educational opportunities.
“I’m inspired by Malala and girls around the world who are proof that courage is stronger than fear,” she tweeted.
Meanwhile, United Nations Special Envoy
for Global Education, and ex-British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has
hailed the efforts of the #BringBackOurGirls coalition in campaigning for the freedom of the abducted girls.
Against the backdrop of allegations by
the Federal Government that the group was politicising the abduction and
being run as a franchise, Brown described the solidarity of the group
for the girls as relentless.
“In Nigeria ‘Bring Back Our Girls’ are
leading the charge as they stand in solidarity with the girls who have
now been in captivity for more than three months. The group has
campaigned relentlessly for the girls’ safe release,” a message on
Brown’s website on Wednesday, quoted him as saying.
In another message on his Twitter page,
Brown stated that schools should be safe havens and places of learning
and not theatres of war.
He added that the United Kingdom should
extend more assistance to Nigeria to effectively contain the menace
being posed by Boko Haram.
“Britain must give more help to Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram,” he tweeted.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on the Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the #BringBackOurGirls group meant well for the Nigerian nation.
“The #bringbackourgirls
campaign groups are pursuing a good cause and that cause should be
supported by all well-meaning Nigerians,” she wrote in a Twitter post.
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