Michelle Obama: Kidnapping of Nigerian girls an 'unconscionable' terror act

Replacing President Barack Obama in the weekly radio and internet address to the nation, the First Lady invoked the story of Pakistani teenage activist Malala Yousufzai and said what happened in Nigeria was not an isolated incident.

It is a story seen every day as girls around the world risk their lives to pursue their ambitions, she said.

She called on nations around the globe to fight to ensure that every girl receives the education that is her birthright.

"It's the story of girls like Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan. Malala spoke out for girls' education in her community...and as a result, she was shot in the head by a

Taliban gunman while on a school bus with her classmates."

"But fortunately Malala survived...and when I met her last year, I could feel her passion and determination as she told me that girls' education is still her life's mission," the First Lady said in her rare weekly address to the nation on the occasion of Mother's Day.

Michelle quoted Malala as saying in her address to the United Nations, "the terrorists thought that they would change our aims and stop our ambitions but nothing changed in my life except this: Weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born."

"The courage and hope embodied by Malala and girls like her around the world should serve as a call to action," Michelle said.

"Because right now, more than 65 million girls worldwide are not in school. Yet, we know that girls who are educated make higher wages, lead healthier lives, and have healthier families. And when more girls attend secondary school, that boosts their country's entire economy," she said.

The First Lady stressed that education is truly a girl's best chance for a bright future, not just for herself, but for her family and her nation.

"And that's true right here in the US as well...so I hope the story of these Nigerian girls will serve as an inspiration for every girl ? and boy ? in this country," she said.

"I hope that any young people in America who take school for granted ? any young people who are slacking off or thinking of dropping out ? I hope they will learn the story of these girls and recommit themselves to their education," the First Lady said.