UN Refugees Award winner urges FG, others to support community driven initiatives
NAN-H-76
Initiative
By Taiye Elebiyo-Edeni and Lizzy Okoji
Abuja, Sept. 18, 2017 (NAN) Mr Zannah Mustapha, 2017 United Nation High Commissioner For Refugees (UNHCR) Nansen Refugee Award Winner on Monday appealed to the Federal Government to support community driven initiatives to facilitate children reintegration into their community.
Mustapha, made the appeal during his award announcement as winner of the 2017 UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award on Monday in Abuja.
Mustapha, who is also the Founder of Future Prowess Islamic Foundation school for Orphans and Vulnerable children in Maiduguri, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) said education was a tool for reintegration.
The UNHCR is also recognising his role as mediator in negotiating the release of the 82 chibok school girls and the 21 women that were held hostage for over two years.
According to Mustapha, the foundation caters for children orphaned by Boko Haram, children of Book Haram and security forces as well as others to unite them through education to push for peace.
He said that the foundation constructed two schools with a total of 1000 children, stating that more children want to be enrolled but they can’t admit more children because of the limited space.
Mustapha called on the government and other NGOs to replicate his efforts by supporting such community driven initiative so that every child can be educated.
“So far we have constructed two schools with a total of 1000 children, we have many more who are seeking enrolment at the school.
“However, due to limited space we cannot admit more than the current number and my appeal to the government, international community and private sector entities is to support such community driven initiatives
“ Initiatives such as the Future Prowess Islamic Foundation School, where children receive education alongside psychosocial support and peace education to facilitate their reintegration into their communities.”
Mustapha noted that the children were orphans, whose parents were either with Boko Haram, the security forces or caught in the middle of the crisis.
He said that through education, children in the North East will be future leaders and achievers of peace.
Mustapha further appreciated the UNHCR on the award giving to him as a reward of his humanitarian services in the North East.
The UNHCR Representative to Nigeria, Antonio Canhandula said they won’t have been able to work effectively in Nigeria without the support of different partners.
He said that the winning the 2017 Nansen Refugee Award was a recognition of Mustapha’s efforts to improve the perilous circumstances of displaced woman and children by Boko Haram conflict.
“ It is my pleasure today to announce the 2017 winner of UNHCR Nansen Refugee Award, Zannah Mustapha from Maiduguri, Borno in North-East of Nigeria.
“ The award is in recognition of Mustapha efforts to improve the perilous circumstances of displaced woman and children, whose lives have been disrupted by the conflict with Boko Haram.
“ Motivated by a desire to help an increasing number of war-affected youth, Mustapha set out to provide educational opportunities where few existed in 2017,” Canhandula said.
In his remarks, Mr Cheik Ba, Country Director, Norwegian Refugees Council (NRC) lauded Mustapha’s efforts driving the course of education in the Northeast, a place where education is considered a risky venture.
He said that the foundation has continue to stand and even expand at a time when everyone had given up.
Ba said that Mustapha has taken a bold initiative to bring peace to the region by bringing together children from both divides under one roof in love.
He said that the NRC would continue to support him to do more so that more children can benefit from his initiative.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mustapha was named winner of the UNHCR 2017 Nansen Refugees Award for his exceptional humanitarian services in the Borno for catering for children orphaned by the insurgency, children of Book Haram, women empowerment, among others.
Mustapha, who also assisted in negotiating the release of 82 Chibok girls, would be presented with the award officially at a ceremony on Oct. 2 in Geneva. (NAN)
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Edited by Felix Ajide