American rapper Onika Maraj-Petty, professionally known as Nicki Minaj, is set to speak at a United Nations event in New York on Tuesday, where she is expected to address reported jihadist attacks on Christians in Nigeria.
Minaj will appear alongside US Ambassador to the UN Michael Waltz and Alex Bruesewitz, a presidential adviser and convener of the event. The development was first reported Sunday by Time magazine senior political correspondent Eric Cortellessa on X.
Ambassador Waltz praised Minaj, calling her “not only arguably the greatest female recording artist, but also a principled individual who refuses to remain silent in the face of injustice.” He expressed gratitude that she was using her platform to highlight what he described as “atrocities against Christians in Nigeria.”
Minaj responded by thanking organizers for the opportunity, saying she did not take the responsibility lightly. “I will never stand down in the face of injustice,” she said, emphasizing that her influence carries a greater purpose.
The event follows former President Donald Trump’s claims of an ongoing “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, as he announced that the country would be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” and urged Congress to take action. Minaj has publicly commended Trump for speaking out on the issue.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has strongly denied allegations of religiously motivated violence, maintaining that insecurity in the country stems from criminal activities unrelated to faith. Despite this, US officials have continued to raise concerns about the situation.
