Børge Brende
Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende
The Norwegian Government has decided to provide NOK 10 million to efforts to promote safe schooling for girls in northern Nigeria. This comes as a result of Boko Haram’s abduction of schoolgirls from Chibok, in Borno state. The funds will also be used to help to the communities affected by the abductions.
In a statement from Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende, said, “Boko Haram’s kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls is an unacceptable attack on girls’ right to education. Norway will also consider providing humanitarian assistance for refugees and internally displaced people in the area”.
Boko Haram’s brutal attack has attracted a great deal of attention both in Nigeria and the rest of the world. The girls have still not been found, and a further 11 girls were kidnapped in the same State last week. Of the 60 million children worldwide who do not currently attend school, over 10 million are in Nigeria, more than half of which are female.
Mr Brende also added, ‘I am deeply concerned about the situation of the abducted girls in Nigeria. The Government condemns Boko Haram’s brutal abduction of the school girls in the strongest possible terms. My thoughts are with the girls and their families’.
Norway plays a leading role in the field of education at the global level, and girls’ education is one of the Government’s development policy priorities.