Nigeria backs UN’s first Global Advocate for Peace, Maryam Hassan
The Federal Government has pledged full support for Maryam Hassan, recently appointed as the United Nations’ first-ever Global Advocate for Peace under its Peace and Security Pillar.
Vice President Kashim Shettima gave the assurance on Monday when Hassan, a Nigerian spoken word artist and peace campaigner, led her team on a courtesy visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Describing her appointment as “well-deserved,” Shettima praised her long-standing commitment to peace advocacy, citing her viral video Violence Has No Religion as a defining moment in her career.
“That is the Nigeria of our dreams,” the Vice President said. “Be assured, Maryam, you are not alone. We will stand by you and do whatever it takes to support your cause.”
Shettima stressed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is “pro-youth” and committed to initiatives that foster unity. He also commended Hassan’s dedication to addressing challenges in her home state of Borno, describing it as “equally inspiring.”
Hassan, in her remarks, said her mission is to promote peace globally, beginning with Nigeria. She called for collaboration with the government to create an enabling environment for her advocacy projects, noting that the country’s security challenges make her work urgent.
“We are trying to showcase what we are doing and to see how we can do this together, because this is not something we can achieve alone,” she said. Her team also outlined a two-year plan to build a coalition of young voices and creatives worldwide to share ideas and strategies for peacebuilding.
