Malala Yousafzai has revealed her admiration for Nigerian food and its culture. In a recent chat with Channels Television, the Nobel Laureate and human rights activist described herself as a “global citizen”, saying she celebrates cultures across the world.
She said:
“I traveled so much around the world that every place seems like home. For me, I feel like I am a global citizen. We should celebrate each other’s cultures and traditions and enjoy the food. I mean, I love jollof rice, plantain, and the food here,” she said.
“I also tried puff puff. It was amazing. Just before my speech at the UN. I was so hungry and I had like five minutes. And then like I ate one puff puff and that was amazing. It was the best thing I took before the speech.”
Nigerian Puff-Puff Is Amazing- Malala Yousafzai
I travel a lot, and I feel like a global citizen. I tried puff-puff just before my speech, and it was amazing.
– Malala Yousafzai (The Nobel prize winner spent her birthday in Nigeria with girls, as she has done for the past 10… pic.twitter.com/IQ47DmAjaC
— Channels Television (@channelstv) July 13, 2023
In 2012, Yousafzai was shot in the head by Taliban militants who were enforcing a ban on girl-child education.
To mark her 16th birthday, she delivered a powerful speech at the UN on July 12, 2013.
The UN would later name July 12 ‘Malala Day’ in 2014 — in honour of her advocacy and support for girl-child education across the world.
During her visit to Nigeria, Malala met with Vice President Kashim Shettima and asked political leaders to invest more in girls’ education. She believes that every girl should have the opportunity to go to school and follow her dreams.
