Nigerian UN Peace Advocate Bukar-Hassan Lists War Zones to Visit in 2026
- Maryam Bukar-Hassan, the United Nations Global Advocate for Peace, has disclosed plans to visit war zones in 2026 to promote peacebuilding through dialogue
- She highlights the power of storytelling as a tool for healing, empathy, and breaking conflict cycles
- She also explained the importance of deploying peace efforts to resolve conflicts, while outlining the consequences of relying on arms
FCT, Abuja – Maryam Bukar-Hassan (Alhan_islam), the newly appointed Global Advocate for Peace by the United Nations, has revealed plans to visit conflict areas worldwide, including Gaza and Sudan, in 2026.
Source: Getty Images
Bukar-Hassan shared this information while engaging with officials at the UN House in Abuja, during a meeting with the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohamed Malick Fall.
According to Bukar-Hassan, these missions are part of her broader responsibility to bring attention to the human side of conflict and promote peacebuilding through dialogue rather than violence.
“We must acknowledge our past, honour our words and pave the way forward. Peace begins with us,” she said.
She reiterated the use of storytelling as a means of healing and bringing about change, citing an instance where a thoughtful comment on a polarising social media post helped ease tension and foster understanding.
“Stories are the foundation of belief.
“Before we believed in prophets or places, we heard stories. That is how faith and identity are built," she said
The peace advocate also revealed plans to launch a podcast titled What Makes You Human, which will feature personal stories aimed at encouraging reflection and fostering unity.
Bukar-Hassan also spoke about the success of a pilot initiative that united 556 young storytellers from different parts of Nigeria for a workshop focused on cultural exchange and conflict resolution.
Bukar-Hassan said that participants co-created poems based on shared experiences and performed them publicly, thereby breaking stereotypes and fostering empathy.
“When you hear someone’s story, you begin to see them as human.
“That empathy is what breaks the cycle of conflict, ”she said.
Welcoming her to the UN House, Fall stressed the urgency of peacebuilding efforts, noting that “peace is a prerequisite for human well-being.” He also pointed out that the failure to establish peace could hinder the flourishing of development, democracy, and human rights.
He voiced concerns about violence becoming a more common way to settle disagreements, both in Nigeria and globally, describing this as a step backwards from the progress achieved in the 80 years since the UN was founded.
Fall described Bukar-Hassan's appointment as "timely and important," emphasising her ability to connect with communities and young people in ways that go beyond traditional diplomatic methods.
Source: Getty Images
UN projects Nigeria's population
Legit.ng previously reported that the United Nations, through the Worldometer platform, has projected that Nigeria’s population will reach 237,527,782 by 2025, marking an increase from the 235,072,214 estimated in December 2024. The report highlights that between 2023 and 2024, Nigeria’s population grew by 4,796,533 people.
The country remains one of the fastest-growing in the world, with a significant portion of its population living in urban areas.
Group petitions UN to intervene in Rivers crisis
Legit.ng also reported that a Nigerian civil society organisation, Save Democracy Vanguard, has petitioned the United Nations over what it described as the illegal suspension of democratic governance in Rivers state, warning that the country’s democracy is at risk of collapse.
In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the group condemned the recent declaration of emergency rule in the oil-rich southern state, calling it a “civilian coup” allegedly backed by the federal government. The letter was signed by the group’s Executive Director, Dr. Ali Mohammed Ali.
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Source: Legit.ng
