Two Chibok schoolgirls, Joy Bishara and Lydia Pogu who escaped from Boko Haram militants seven years have graduated from Southeastern University in the United States.
The ex-students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state, were among the 276 girls kidnapped by the insurgent group on April 14, 2014.
The fresh graduates managed to escape captivity by jumping off the truck while they were being carted away by the kidnappers.
The duo graduated on April 30 with Bishara earning a degree in social work, while Pogu a degree in legal studies.
Recalling on their ordeal and success, Bishara told GMA3 that “I remember thinking about what my mum would do at that moment then I prayed. I just remembered a voice in my head saying ‘jump out’. I knew I was going to die either way. I chose to die and that was how I jumped out.”
Asked how she felt on the day of her graduation, she said: “It was awesome, I felt great. I remember being told that I wasn’t going to be able to finish high school; that I was dumb. I never gave up or listened to all the negative talks. It was exciting to walk on that stage after being told ‘you can’t do it’.”
On her part, Pogu said she had decided against going back to school after her escape until she was contacted by the US embassy.
“I’m trying to get my masters in human services and going back to law school when I’m done with my masters,” Pogu said.
Both girls graduated from Canyonville Christian Academy in Oregon in February 2017.
“It was exciting to walk on that stage after being told you can’t do it.”
Boko Haram kidnapping survivors Joy Bishara & Lydia Pogu talk life after tragedy as they graduate from college. #GMA3 #WYNTK pic.twitter.com/dqDFxXD6tA
— GMA3: What You Need To Know (@ABCGMA3) May 7, 2021