Maryam Bukar Hassan, a celebrated Nigerian spoken word poet and peace advocate, has been appointed as the United Nations Global Advocate for Peace. The announcement was made on Friday through a statement from the Office of the Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, marking a significant recognition of her tireless work in promoting peace, gender equality, and youth empowerment.
Known widely for her emotive performances and compelling poetry, Hassan has used her artistic voice to address social justice, inclusive peacebuilding, and the rights of marginalized communities. Her recent collaboration with the UN on the “Peace Begins With Me” poetry video for the International Day of Peace demonstrated the powerful impact of art in promoting global harmony. She also delivered a moving spoken word piece at the 2023 Summit of the Future, further solidifying her position as a global voice for peace.
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, emphasized the importance of Hassan’s role in advancing the organization’s mission. “The dedication of the Global Advocate’s time and energy to this effort will greatly increase awareness of the peace and security priorities of the United Nations, particularly the vital role of women and youth in advancing inclusive and sustainable peace,” Lacroix noted.
Hassan’s work has been featured on major global platforms, including TED Talks, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Awards, and the World Bank Youth Summit. Her influence extends beyond performance, earning her accolades such as the Sustainable Africa Award at COP28 and a finalist position for the 2024 UN SDG Creativity Award.
As the new Global Advocate for Peace, Hassan will continue to use her creative talents to raise awareness and mobilize communities toward conflict resolution, equity, and long-term stability. Her appointment signals a growing recognition of the intersection between art and advocacy in driving change on the global stage. Through her voice, Maryam Bukar Hassan is not only telling stories she is helping shape a more peaceful world.
