Historic Moment at United Nations
American rapper Onika Maraj-Petty, globally known as Nicki Minaj, has achieved a groundbreaking milestone by becoming the first female rapper ever to address a United Nations forum. The historic event took place on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at a gathering organized by the United States Mission to the United Nations in New York.
During her powerful address, which was streamed live on the official YouTube channel of the U.S. Mission to the UN, Minaj brought attention to the severe persecution facing Christians in Nigeria. "Back in way too many places... in Nigeria, Christians are being targeted, driven from their homes and killed," the rapper declared with visible emotion.
Addressing Religious Persecution in Nigeria
Minaj provided specific details about the crisis, stating that churches have been burned to the ground, families torn apart, and entire communities living in constant fear simply because of their religious beliefs. She emphasized that this represents a growing global problem that requires immediate international intervention.
"Sadly, this problem is not only a growing problem in Nigeria but also in so many other countries across the world — and it demands urgent action," Minaj told the assembled delegates. She clarified that her call for protecting Christians should not be interpreted as taking sides in religious conflicts.
The rapper explained that "Protecting Christians in Nigeria is not about taking sides or dividing people. It is about uniting humanity." She expressed her affection for Nigeria, describing it as "a beautiful nation with deep faith traditions and lots of beautiful Barbz that I can’t wait to see."
Global Response and Nigerian Context
Minaj's UN appearance came at a critical moment, following recent statements by United States President Donald Trump, who had threatened military action against terrorists in Nigeria if the killing of Christians continued. The Trump administration had recently designated Nigeria among its "Countries of Particular Concern" regarding religious freedom violations.
The timing of Minaj's speech coincided with fresh violence in Nigeria. On the same Tuesday she spoke, police confirmed that two worshippers were killed during an attack on a church in Kwara State. Simultaneously, in a separate incident in Kebbi State, 25 schoolgirls were abducted, with two later managing to escape. Tragically, a teacher and a security guard, both identified as Muslim, were also killed during the abduction incident.
United States Congressman Mike Waltz, who also participated in the UN forum, praised Minaj for "leveraging her massive platform to spotlight the atrocities against Christians in Nigeria."
Meanwhile, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu expressed his profound concern about the security situation in the country. In a social media post on Wednesday, Tinubu stated that the abduction of the 25 schoolgirls in Kebbi State and the killing of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other soldiers in Borno State had left him "depressed."
The President offered prayers for the affected families and specifically mentioned the families of the kidnapped schoolgirls and fallen soldiers. "As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I am depressed with the tragic death of our soldiers and officers on active duty," Tinubu wrote. "May God comfort the families of Brigadier General Musa Uba and other fallen heroes."
Throughout her address, Minaj emphasized the universal importance of protecting all places of worship, stating that "When one’s church, mosque, or place of worship is destroyed, everyone’s heart should break just a little bit." She challenged the United Nations to fulfill its core mandate of ensuring global peace and security.
The rapper concluded by praising interfaith and peace advocates present at the event, expressing inspiration from their work to build bridges across religious divides. She called for "deepened solidarity for us to urgently work together to ensure every person can enjoy the right to believe, to worship, and to live in peace."
