The CEO of Murtala Muhammmed Foundation (MMF) Dr Aisha Muhammed-Oyebode has emphasised the need for women and girls globally to have security, education and better future on the anniversary of the 9th abduction of 275 girls in Chibok, Borno State.
In a statement as part of activities to mark the abduction on Friday, the development specialist, NGO expert and human rights activist informed on the release of her book titled: “The stolen daughters of Chibok” to commemorate the occasion.
The book was released last week in the USA on April 4 by PowerHouse Books Inc New York.
The book, according to her, collects the families’ testimonies of loss and hope beginning in 2015, when none of their daughters had been found.
As a collection of narratives, the book is a call to action for the restoration of balance in Nigeria’s Chibok community.
It features photographs by award-winning photographer Akintunde Akinleye, interviews with the families, and chapters and excerpts by a team of experts, including journalists and psychologists, who have collaborated to create a comprehensive account and thorough examination of this tragedy.
The forward for the book is written by the Chairman Board of Trustees of the Murtala Muhammed Foundation, former President Olusegun Obasanjo with essays on violence, gender, and more from writers, novelists, academics, public figures, including Nobel laurette Professor Wole Soyinka, Mozambique and South Africa’s former first lady, Graça Machel-Mandela, Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II, Bishop Mathew Kukah, Professor Femi Oyebode and beyond.
The result is a heart-rending portrayal of the cost of this tragedy, which has touched the lives of communities in Nigeria and across the globe.
Muhammed-Oyebode reiterated that the Foundation is determined to work with partners to improve the status of women and girls around the globe prioritizing safety, education, and economic opportunity. Particularly in the context of Nigeria she notes that ” While progress has been made, it is evident that more needs to be done to develop clear routes that bring women and girls from conflict to safety.”
“The stolen daughters of Chibok,” the MMF Chief Executive explained “is a tribute to the resilience and courage of the Chibok families, who have refused to relinquish hope despite adversity. This book should be read by anyone who cares about the fate of these brave girls and their families and anyone who believes in the transformative power of literature.