y Gideon Maxwell
July 29, 2025
Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has hailed the United Nations’ recognition of Nigerian poet and peace advocate Maryam Alhanislam, describing her as a voice that “shifts the room entirely” and represents the quiet strength of Nigerian greatness.
In a powerful tribute posted on Friday, Prof. Osinbajo praised the northern poet whose lyrical activism and global influence recently earned her the UN platform—an honour he said merely confirms what many Nigerians have long recognised.
“There are voices that fill a room. And there are voices that shift the room entirely. Maryam’s voice has always been the latter,” Osinbajo wrote.
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“Calm, lyrical, steady… it enters with purpose. It calls nations to conscience. It sits with presidents and peasants alike and speaks peace in their language.”
Referring to her poetic presence and her advocacy for peace and the girl child, Osinbajo said Alhanislam has become a symbol of Nigerian excellence, turning personal and collective pain into a petition for justice.
“Even the UN had no choice but to hand her the mic and wisely not take it back,” he said.
The tribute concluded with a heartfelt congratulations: “Greatness is Nigerian. And more precisely, greatness is Maryam. Congratulations, Alhanislam. You remind us all that peace is not the absence of struggle. It is the courage to speak when the world stops listening. And you, you never stopped speaking.”
Maryam Alhanislam, known for her compelling spoken word performances and advocacy for vulnerable communities, recently received global attention after she was spotlighted by the United Nations for her contributions to peace and youth engagement.
Her growing influence reinforces the role of young Nigerians as global changemakers— a sentiment long championed by Osinbajo throughout his public service and leadership.
