A Nigerian lawyer who helped secure the loose of to a greater extent than than 100 schoolgirls kidnapped yesteryear Boko Haram was on Mon awarded 1 of the United Nations' top prizes.
The UNHCR said Zannah Mustapha was given the annual Nansen honor for his "crucial mediating" component equally good equally his operate helping children affected yesteryear the long-running conflict.
Last year's recipients of the honor were to a greater extent than than two 000 volunteers who saved the lives of thousands of migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe.
Mustapha, who is inwards his late-50s, said the honor was unexpected but he was "exceedingly happy" to cause got been chosen.
"I aspect forrad to beingness a worthy ambassador... for such a noble award," he told AFP inwards an interview inwards the capital, Abuja.
Mustapha laid The Future Prowess Islamic Foundation School 10 years ago, which has since proved a lifeline for children inwards conflict-riven together with impoverished northeast Nigeria.
Peace talks
The primary schoolhouse has grown from having only 36 children together with a unmarried classroom to 540 pupils - to a greater extent than than one-half of them girls - together with 4 times equally many on the waiting list.
Last year, a 2nd schoolhouse was opened close the start out inwards the Borno terra firma capital, Maiduguri, providing costless teaching to 88 pupils displaced from their homes yesteryear the violence.
Students likewise include the children of Boko Haram fighters together with Nigerian soldiers.
"This is the identify where every kid matters, no affair what their religion, background or culture... Our aim is to brand positive changes inwards their lives," he told the UNHCR.
Mustapha is a well-known figure inwards northeast Nigeria having previously represented the identify unit of measurement of Mohammed Yusuf, the founder of Boko Haram who died inwards police describe custody inwards 2009.
The lawyer has previously been involved inwards peace talks alongside the group, whose insurgency has left at to the lowest degree xx 000 dead together with displaced to a greater extent than than 2.6 1 one 1000 thousand inwards the final 8 years.
He refused to let on exact details virtually his interest inwards talks for the loose of 219 schoolgirls who were seized yesteryear the grouping from the remote town of Chibok inwards Apr 2014.
Global attention
A full of 106 of the Chibok girls cause got been released, institute or escaped.
He told AFP when a bargain was start out reached it was "the highest point" inwards his life.
He said that beingness from the region, the kidnappings, which brought global attending on the Boko Haram conflict, were equally if his ain immature adult woman had been taken.
Zannah was likewise circumspect virtually the fate of the remaining schoolgirls, confirming alone that talks were ongoing together with he was involved.
But he said he was "100% hopeful" that they would hold upwards released together with that the insurgency volition come upwards to an end.
After then much violence, "everybody inwards my terra firma is yearning to cause got peace", he said.
"We desire to cause got transformation of the whole procedure to cease together with nosotros are working towards that," he added.
AFP