Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, better known as DJ Cuppy, made history on Saturday, September 21, 2024, by becoming the first British Nigerian to host an opening session at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City.
The 32-year-old philanthropist and founder of the Cuppy Foundation anchored the session titled “The Summit of the Future – Youth Actions Day,” bringing youthful energy and excitement to the global event.
DJ Cuppy, known for her advocacy work, delivered an inspiring keynote address on young people’s critical role in addressing global challenges. During her speech, she stated, “My name is Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, but you can call me Cuppy. I’m repping a country called Nigeria, in case you’ve heard of it. I’m a DJ, philanthropist, but also your moderator. It’s all about you. Now, someone once told me, it’s not about your ‘what,’ but it’s about your ‘why’. So why are we here? We believe that youth need to be able to take action.”
Cuppy also revealed her foundation’s work promoting access to quality education across Africa. “My favourite Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) is definitely 4: Opportunity for Everyone to Get Quality Education. At my foundation, the Cuppy Foundation, we provide funds for African students,” she said.
Reacting to her achievement, her millionaire father, Femi Otedola, took to Instagram to share his pride in her: ” I am Overwhelmed with pride as my daughter @cuppymusic makes history as the first Nigerian to host the UN General Assembly opening session,” he said.
DJ Cuppy hinted at her political ambitions during the event, suggesting she might one day become Nigeria’s first female president. “I’m so proud to be here. Today, I want you to get involved in the conversation, because one day I might be president,” she joked, to the delight of the audience.
Later in the evening, during the closing session, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed responded to Cuppy’s remarks, playfully adding, “You told me you wanted to be Nigeria’s first female president, and what did I say? After me,” sending the room into laughter.
Cuppy also rounded off the day with a delightful musical performance.
The Cuppy Foundation, founded in 2019, has significantly promoted educational empowerment for disadvantaged students in Africa. One of its key initiatives is providing scholarships and resources for African students at prestigious institutions, including New York University (NYU), where Cuppy herself earned a Master’s degree in Music Business in 2015. Recently, she launched the Cuppy Fund at NYU, aimed at supporting African students, which she described as a “dream come true.”
