Robert Smith, a Black American billionaire reportedly worth $2.5 billion whose source of income is private equity, has agreed to foot the bill for 24 Nigerian girls to receive an education at the American University of Nigeria. 21 of the girls escaped from Boko Haram just a few months ago; they had been held captive since 2014. 219 girls remain captive, and according to reports, if they are set free, Smith will pay for their education as well.??????
According to Forbes, the cost to attend the university can range from $5,000 to $11,000. Smith has signed on to pay for all costs including room, board, books, meals, etc.
A chemical engineer graduate of Cornell University, Smith resides in Austin, Texas. Last year, he was named Chairman of the Board at Carnegie Hall and is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Vista Equity Partners, which has yielded high earnings on enterprise software. A former Goldman Sachs banker, Smith ranks number 274 on Forbes? list of the 400 Wealthiest People in the United States and received an M.B.A. from Columbia University.
