Great news for Nigerian mediator Zannah Mustapha this week.

He has been awarded the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees Nansen Refugee Award.

The award is in recognition of humanitarian work on behalf of refugees and in Zannah’s case is for his work helping to secure the release of dozens of Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram.

Zannah personally escorted 21 Chibok schoolgirls from Boko Haram’s control in October 2016. A further 82 have since been released with Zannah’s help.

Filippo Grandi UN High Commissioner for Refugees said “The work Mustapha and his team are doing is of the utmost importance, helping to foster peaceful coexistence and rebuild communities in northeastern Nigeria. With this award, we honor his vision and service"

Zannah is from Borno State northeast Nigeria and his work included helping to improve the lives of the displaced children and families whose lives had been completely shattered by Boko Haram’s actions.

Boko Haram has, in 8 years of insurgency, killed over 20,000 and women and girls who have been kidnapped have been used as suicide bombers, so it is difficult to overstate Zannah’s excellent work.

He founded the Future Prowess Islamic Foundation School for orphans and vulnerable children in Maidugur, the capital of his home state of Borno, and coincidentally the birth place of Boko Haram.

The school now provides free education to over 500 students, a second school has now been opened with nearly 100 further pupils being provided with free education.

Most mediators don’t get the chance to have such an impact on the world stage but every mediation is important to each participant.

One of the goals of mediation is to help all parties to appreciate (if not accept) the other’s position in what for each party is at that point in time one of the most important matters they have to deal with.

Whether it’s an employee dispute, a family argument over child contact or finances, or you want a commercial mediator or an argument with your neighbour - mediation should be your first step to resolving your conflict.

If you have a dispute and are looking for an affordable (cheap) solution that doesn’t involve solicitors or lawyers and allows you to keep control of the resolution call Northwest Mediation on 07931318347 or via email at ed.johnson@northwestmediation.co.uk