7 things you don”t know about 2017 Nansen Refugee Award winner, Zannah Mustapha

Zannah Mustapha, a champion for the rights of displaced children growing up amid violence in north-eastern Nigeria to get a quality education, has been named the 2017 winner of UNHCR’s Nansen Refugee Award.   However, most people have no idea who Zannah Mustapha is and where he is from. Below are some of the things […]

Zannah Mustapha, a champion for the rights of displaced children growing up amid violence in north-eastern Nigeria to get a quality education, has been named the 2017 winner of UNHCR’s Nansen Refugee Award.

 

However, most people have no idea who Zannah Mustapha is and where he is from. Below are some of the things you probably don’t know about him:

1. Zannah Mustapha is a Nigerian from Maiduguri, Borno state.

2. Zannah Mustapha is a lawyer and a mediator.

3. Zannah Mustapha made history in January, 2016 as the first Nigerian to earn a global recognition for humanitarian services from far away Scotland where he contested with two other nominees to emerge the first runner up for the 2016 Robert Burns Humanitarian Award.

4. He founded the only school in Borno State where orphans and children of victims from both sides of Boko Haram insurgency are given free education in a school where pupils are fed freely.

5. Zannah’s school, popularly known as Future Prowess Islamic School, has managed to survive the Boko Haram insurgency at a period when other schools had to close down for over a year due to incessant attacks by Boko Haram insurgents.

6. In 2016, Mustapha played a crucial role in the release of some Chibok school girls. He actually mediated between the Nigerian Government and Boko Haram and 21 girls were released.

7. Mustapha also facilitate the release of another 82 captives from their captors.