African-American billionaire Robert Smith wants to help foot the bill for 24 Chibok school girls’ university education. The girls, including 21 who were released from Boko Haram captivity in October, could get sponsored by the businessman, who has also offered to pay the school fees of other girls still being held hostage when they are released. This was revealed on Tuesday by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Smith, 54, lives in Austin, Texas, and heads Vista Equity Partners, a private equity firm he founded in 2000. The company, which invests in software and technology-based businesses, is said to have over $26 billion in cumulative capital commitments. Forbes reckons Smith to be worth about $2.5 billion.
According to Shehu, the intervention of the African American businessman could see the Chibok girls admitted into the American University of Nigeria in Yola, Adamawa State. He will also “take responsibility for all the others who will hopefully, be eventually set free.”
The presidential adviser hinted at the existence of other possible parties willing to help the girls from within the country; he referred to the Murtala Muhammed Foundation as being “interested” in providing some form of aid to them.
Robert Smith’s has shown interest in humanitarian causes. He is presently chair of Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, a body of entrepreneurs, advocates, lawyers and writers involved in bringing social justice issues to the attention of the American public. He has also contributed to educational and culture-deepening projects in his country.