Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teenager who the Taliban tried to kill over her advocacy for girls' education, celebrated her 17th birthday in Nigeria, renewing calls to bring back the schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram in April.
Malala's message for girls: "Don't let anyone tell you that you are weaker or less than anything." #StrongerThan
Malala met President Goodluck Jonathan, who assured her he would rescue the 219 girls still held by Boko Haram. Many have fiercely criticized Jonathan for repeatedly stating his commitment to rescuing the girls — but then failing to actually act.
Malala also met with some of the families of the kidnapped schoolgirls and the organizers of the now viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign in Abuja, Nigeria's capital.
While in Nigeria, Malala turned 17.
The activist used her birthday to release a video to support her latest campaign, #StrongThan. "What are you stronger than?" the video asks. "Show it to the world on this #MalalaDay."
View this video on YouTube
On Twitter, Malala reiterated her support for all school children everywhere deprived of their right to education.
"10.5 million children in Nigeria do not have access to education. Around 400 girls are abducted by Boko Haram." -Malala
"7 million children in Pakistan are deprived of education. And about 900,000 people are homeless due to miliatry operations"
"Girls from Syria who were once in schools and learning, now live in a camp, and struggle to understand life in a new country as a refugee."
"Bc of conflict btwn Gaza and Israel people are badly suffering on both sides and recently many children died in air strikes on Palestine"
Aslew of leading politicians, NGOs, and celebrities shared their birthday wishes with Malala on Twitter and expressed their support using her favorite hashtags.
"We are #StrongerThan the enemies of education. We are stronger than fear, hatred, violence and poverty.” #MalalaDay
Today, on #MalalaDay, let's stand w/#Malala in her fight to ensure every girl has access to an education. Because we're #StrongerThan fear.
Celebrate #MalalaDay today by sharing what you're #StrongerThan: http://t.co/v7w3qm2qyG
So happy birthday Malala! And Jonathan, just a reminder, it's really bad form to fall back on a birthday promise.
