Ms. Obama noted that more than 65 million girls worldwide do not attend school even though educated women earn more money and have healthier families.
“When more girls attend secondary school, that boosts their country's entire economy,” she said. “So education is truly a girl's best chance for a bright future, not just for herself, but for her family and her nation.”
In Saturday's address, the first lady asked the nation to pray for the Nigerian girls' safe return.
“This unconscionable act was committed by a terrorist group determined to keep these girls from getting an education grown men attempting to snuff out the aspirations of young girls,” she said. “Let us hold their families in our hearts during this very difficult time, and let us show just a fraction of their courage in fighting to give every girl on this planet the education that is her birthright.”
The Nigerian government's inability to rescue the girls nearly a month after they were abducted by the Boko Haram organization has sparked worldwide outrage, including protests and a social media campaign. The U.S. and other countries have sent teams of technical experts to assist the Nigerian government's search effort.
Authorities have said more than 300 girls were abducted from their school in the country's remote northeast. Fifty-three escaped and 276 remain captive.
President Obama said this week that the U.S. will do everything to help Nigeria find them.
