Nigeria backs UN’s First Global Advocate for Peace, Maryam Hassan
Nigeria has pledged full support to Maryam Bukar Hassan, the newly appointed United Nations Global Advocate for Peace, as she takes on the task of promoting unity and peace worldwide.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, hailed Maryam’s appointment as historic and well deserved. She is the first person to hold the role across the UN’s Peace and Security Pillar.
“She has been consistent in her peace advocacy, and one of her ardent contributions was that video that went viral *‘Violence Has No Religion.’* To me, it is the crowning glory of her career. I have watched that particular video more than a hundred times because it is very inspiring,” Shettima said.
The Vice President assured her of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s backing, describing the administration as “pro-youth” and committed to supporting her work. “On behalf of the President, I want to assure you that the present administration is a pro-youth administration, and we will do whatever it takes to support your cause. Be rest assured, Maryam, that you’re not alone. We’re in this together, and whatever support you need, we’ll give you,” he said.
“Believe me, the grass is not greener on the other side. We can make this country great. God has blessed us with enormous human and material resources, and when we properly handle them, we can really transform lives in this country,” Shettima added.
Maryam, a Nigerian spoken word artist and peace campaigner from Borno State, said her mission is to bring the message of peace to the world, starting from her home country. “Nigeria is grappling with so many security challenges and as far as my work is concerned, I am to go global and want to start with my own country. This is the reason for our visit,” she said.
She called for collaboration with the federal government to create an enabling environment for her advocacy projects. “We are trying to showcase what we are doing and to know how we can do this together, as this is not something that we can do alone,” Maryam added.
Her two-year peace roadmap will focus on building coalitions of young voices and engaging creatives globally to spread messages of unity and conflict resolution.
