Christiana Igbokwe is 13, a Nigerian-American vocalist from Houston, Texas, and she has just been named a nominee for the International Children’s Peace Prize 2026.
Her nomination recognizes her advocacy in children’s rights, education and digital safety. The Nigeria Brief reports she also works on child participation.
This is the 22nd edition of the prize. Launched by KidsRights at the 2005 World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Rome, it is presented every year by a Nobel Peace Laureate. The winner takes home the Nkosi statuette, an education fund, and €50,000 for their own project. Last year’s laureate was Bana Alabed, honored for representing children in war zones.
A nomination is not a win. A committee of experts picks the winner. But the entry bar is not charm. Organizers require a clear history of fighting for children’s rights, a concrete positive result to show for it, and the nominee’s own agreement to be put forward.
So what is Christiana’s result?
Her initiative, Project Santa in a Box, has supported vulnerable and orphaned children, including help with school fees. She also campaigns against bullying. According to her published nominee profile, she became the youngest recipient of The Diana Award at age 10, and has been recognized as a UNICEF Young Influencer in Nigeria.
Music is her megaphone. She announced herself as a music activist with an EP, “Motherland,” whose songs tackle social issues. Later she released “Kindness,” a reimagined version of her grandmother’s hit, as part of her anti-bullying campaign on Children’s Day.
The grandmother in question is Christy Essien-Igbokwe, the late singer and actress many Nigerians still call the Lady of Songs. Christiana does not hide the debt. She released the new single to mark the 13th anniversary of her grandmother’s death, and she has a demand for the people in power.