Mariam Issoufou named 2025 UN Champion of the Earth for Entrepreneurial Vision

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.