Mariam Issoufou named 2025 UN Champion of the Earth

At the Gala of Hope hosted in Nairobi on December 10, 2025, Mariam Issoufou was honored with the 2025 UN Champion of the Earth award for Entrepreneurial Vision.

The award is the UNEP’s highest environmental honor.

In her acceptance speech Mariam said: "Climate is always the first thing we think about in every context we design for... If we continue to build without paying attention to place, without paying attention to sustainability and the environment, what will happen is an acceleration of the climate crisis."

She also spoke about her growth as an entrepreneur in the architectural sector: "I have had the reverse trajectory compared to many [architectural firms] where I took a firm headquartered in Africa and now opening offices in other parts of the world." Issoufou said she hoped that her approach to architecture as a tool for social good becomes not only common, but also a social norm.

Angélique Kidjo, Singer-Songwriter, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and 2011 UNEP Champion of the Earth reflected on Issoufou’s work and the deep cultural wisdom that shapes her architectural vision.

“I have always believed that Africa holds the answers within her soil, her people, her history, her customs. Mariam Issoufou understands this truth deeply. She turns what others might see as limitation — heat, dust, scarcity — into beauty and hope. Her buildings do more than shelter; they heal. They remind us that progress does not mean abandoning our roots, but rediscovering the wisdom they hold.  As a fellow Champion of the Earth, I recognize in Mariam a kindred spirit — someone who transforms struggle into song. She builds the way a composer writes music: with rhythm, emotion, and a deep awareness of the spaces between notes. Her architecture, like great art, carries a message that transcends borders. It tells us we can live in harmony with the planet, if only we remember how to listen.  

Mariam is not only shaping structures; she is shaping possibility. In a century defined by climate crisis, she reminds us that the answers are already here — in the earth beneath our feet, and in the courage to build with love.” 

Please watch as Mariam speaks to the UNEP team about her work.