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Remarks of Mrs. Zainab Hawa Bangura, Under-Secretary-General and Director-General, United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) at the Opening of the 25th Kenya Model United Nations

Honourable Kalonzo Musyoka, Former Vice President and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kenya, 
Hon Lady Justice Njoki Ndungu is a Judge of the Supreme Court of Kenya, 
Mr. Moses Mumo, Kenya Model United Nations Secretary-General,
Ms. Cynthia Michira, Kenya Model United Nations Deputy Secretary-General,
Student Delegates and Youth,
Esteemed Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen: 

Good morning to you all and welcome to the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON). 

Before I begin, let me ask a rhetorical question: What does it mean to be a trailblazer? 

It means setting new standards. It means breaking barriers, pushing boundaries, and taking action today to shape a better tomorrow. And today, as I stand before you, I see a room full of trailblazers - young leaders ready to step up and make a difference in the world. 

A hearty congratulations to you all as you mark the 25th Anniversary of the Kenya Model United Nations. From your first conference of just 28 students at Moi University to today’s nationwide movement of over 1,000 annual participants and outreach to 10,000 students, your journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. 

This year’s theme, “Trailblazing Action for Today and Tomorrow,” is particularly significant. It reminds us that change does not happen by chance—it happens by choice. And it is a choice we must all make: to actively engage in shaping the world we want to live in. 

As we reflect on the 80 years of the United Nations, let us remember why it was created in the first place. Emerging from the ashes of World War II, world leaders came together with a commitment to: 

  • Prevent war and conflict, 

  • Protect human rights, 

  • Uphold international law, and 

  • Promote social progress and sustainable development. 

Today, the UN continues to make a real difference in people’s lives. Each year, we: 

  • Assist and protect 117 million people fleeing war, famine, and persecution through UNHCR. 

  • Provide food assistance to over 160 million people in 120 countries through WFP 

  • Supply vaccines to 45% of the world’s children, saving over 3 million lives annually thorough UNICEF, and 

  • Support elections in over 50 countries to strengthen democracy through UNDP. 

But while we celebrate these successes, we cannot ignore the challenges ahead. 

Frankly, a lot more remains to be done. 

  • We are not on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a $4 trillion annual financing gap. 

  • We face two profound global threats:  

  • The climate crisis, which threatens our very existence. 

  • The ungoverned expansion of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which presents both opportunities and risks. 

These challenges require bold action, and that is why, last September, world leaders adopted the Pact for the Future—a renewed commitment to a more effective and inclusive UN system. 

What does this mean for you? 

It means: 

  • More opportunities for young people to participate in shaping decisions that impact your future. 

  • A global push to govern AI responsibly and connect all schools and hospitals to the internet. 

  • Strengthened commitments to gender equality, peace, and security. 

The Pact for the Future is about you and for you. Your voices, your ideas, and your leadership are essential in shaping this new global vision. 

Here at UNON, we take pride in being the only UN headquarters in Africa and the Global South. 

Our 140-acre Gigiri complex is the largest UN compound in the world and home to: 

  • UN Environment Programme (UNEP) – the leading global authority on environmental sustainability. 

  • UN-Habitat – advancing sustainable urban development. 

  • 86 UN offices, covering humanitarian, development, and peacekeeping work across Africa and beyond. 

As part of our commitment to sustainability, UNON was the first and only UN headquarters to achieve ISO 14001 certification. We currently: 

  • Recycle 99% of office waste. 

  • Have built net-zero energy office buildings powered by solar energy. 

  • Are working towards energy neutrality by 2030. 

And by 2030, when some of you may be launching your UN careers, Nairobi will have a world-class Assembly Hall, making it a global hub for environmental multilateralism. 

I am also thrilled that today, you are commemorating International Women’s Day. 

This year, we celebrate 30 years since the Beijing Declaration, which remains the blueprint for gender equality. But our work is far from over. 

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres said: 
"When the doors of equal opportunity are open for women and girls, everyone wins." 

Let me share a personal story. 

I was raised by a single mother in Sierra Leone. She was poor, but she was determined. She made sure I stayed in school, and that education changed my life. 

I went on to work in the private sector, become a civil society leader, serve in government, and ultimately, rise to Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. 

What made the difference? Education. 

I took advantage of every opportunity to learn—whether in school, from colleagues, or from the people I met. Education is the foundation of empowerment, and it is the key to breaking barriers. 

As delegates of the Kenya Model United Nations, you are not just here to debate global issues. You are here to be part of the solution. 

The issues you will discuss this week—climate action, digital governance, peace, and development—are not just theoretical. They are real challenges that demand real action. 

As you leave here at the end of the conference, I encourage you to: 

  • Stay engaged in global affairs. 

  • Be a voice for peace, justice, and human dignity. 

  • Continue being trailblazers, not just for today, but for tomorrow and generations to come. 

“We, the Peoples of the United Nations”—the first words of the UN Charter—refer to all of us. 

Let us work together to build a future of peace, dignity, and prosperity. 

With that, I now declare the 25th Kenya Model United Nations officially open. 

Thank you.