By Auwal Mohammed
Gombe (Nigeria) — A Church in the United States, Church of the Servant King, Gardena, California, is asking permission from the Nigerian Government to offer university scholarship to four Chibok girls from northeast part of the country, recently released by Boko Haram.
The four girls, though unnamed, were among the over 200 school girls kidnapped by Boko Haram, but recently regained their freedom.
The request was contained in a letter signed by its pastor, Richard Read, and addressed to the Minister of Women Affairs, Jummai Alhassan, through its Nigerian contact, Pastor Mercel Zamdai Sunny – a copy of which was made available to Journalists in Gombe on Wednesday.
The Church said it has finalized arrangement for the girls to gain admission into HOPE International University, Fullerton, California in time for the 2017/18 academic session.
The church said it is sponsoring the university education of the girls in order to give them hope and a better life.
“Back in the 70s and 80s, we sponsored 30 Cambodian people. We assisted them in assimilating and establishing new lives in a new world and lived in our homes with us. We believe this situation warrants the same kind of response.
“We are well prepared to love and care for these young women while they are in the US. Our prayers are that these four will achieve success to counterbalance the horror they went through with the Boko Haram,” part of the letter reads.
The church disclosed that a number of benefactors would offset all expenses for the girls to start their university education in the US.
The church said while the await the approval of the minister, they are authorizing their local church pastor in Nigeria, Pastor Zamdai, to “facilitate and navigate through the acceptance forms, the correct documents, the departure forms and paperwork.”
