Nigerian Poet Maryam Bukar Hassan Named UN's First Global Advocate for Peace

• The United Nations has appointed Maryam Bukar Hassan, a 28-year-old Nigerian poet, as the world body's first-ever Global Advocate for Peace
• Under her new position, she will employ performance and poetry to advance gender equality, youth empowerment, and inclusive peacebuilding

The United Nations has appointed 28-year-old Nigerian poet Maryam Bukar Hassan as its first-ever Global Advocate for Peace.

This is Maryam, who performs under her working name "Alhanislam," a peace activist and spoken word poet from Biu, Borno State. She will use the power of poetry and performance to advocate for gender equality, youth empowerment, and peace participation at the global level in her new position.

She has performed at a number of distinguished global stages, such as UN SDG Awards, TED Talks, and the World Bank Youth Summit. Bukar has worked with the UN on a number of influential projects such as the "Peace Begins With Me" poetry video for International Day of Peace, and she delivered a powerful performance at the 2024 Summit of the Future.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix, in a reception of her appointment stated that the arrival would be of high visibility to bring awareness on the UN peace and security agendas, specifically the vital role played by women and youth to sustainable peace.

Rosemary DiCarlo, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, also welcomed the appointment of Bukar and underscored the power of art in mobilizing, unifying, and sparking change. "Through her poignant words and performances, Maryam has shown us the transformative potential of creativity as a peacebuilding, dialogue-enhancing force," Rosemary said.

As the first Global Advocate for the UN's whole Peace and Security Pillar, Maryam will be working on the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) and Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) agendas. She will narrate through storytelling, online outreach, and public speaking, and has been booked to perform at key UN events and campaigns, among them the New York City SummerStage festival on Sunday, 27 July 2025, sharing the stage with artists such as Femi Kuti and Elida Almeida.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed welcomed Maryam's appointment in a post on X, stating:

"Your voice bears truth and infinite inspiration. As you have once remarked: 'Peace has always known a woman's name spoken in the way she chooses courage over collapse, again and again.' So proud to see a Nigerian woman lighting the path of peace."

Nigeria's Women Affairs and Social Development Minister, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, also praised Bukar as a source of pride for Nigeria and an inspiration for young women everywhere. "Her success is a shining example of pride, and her advocacy on behalf of women through #WomenPeaceSecurity and #YouthPeaceSecurity will continue to make a difference in the world," she said.

Maryam's activism and creativity have already earned her numerous awards, including the Sustainable Africa Award at COP28 and finalist status in the 2024 UN SDG Creativity Award.