By Emmanuel Nduka
Zuriel Oduwole, a passionate advocate for peace, education, and gender equality, has been nominated for the prestigious 2025 Nobel Peace Prize at just 22 years old.
Oduwole’s global efforts to create opportunities for marginalized communities and spark systemic change have garnered international recognition, underscoring Nigeria’s growing influence on the global stage.
Born in Los Angeles to Nigerian grandparents, Oduwole’s work spans across continents, having engaged with more than 35 world leaders, including presidents and prime ministers, to discuss key policy and development issues.
Her advocacy is centered around improving educational access for underserved communities, particularly girls, and promoting global peace.
Her impressive career began early—at 13, she mediated a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, bringing the two nations together for dialogue at the United Nations. In 2020, she helped Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi develop peaceful strategies during the Arab blockade of Qatar, which ended in 2021.
Oduwole’s advocacy for education as a tool for development and peace has been a core part of her mission since childhood.
At 14, she pushed for ‘reward-based’ education programs for developing countries in a meeting with US Secretary of State, John Kerry.
Her focus on education as a vehicle for peace led to the 2019 resolution of child marriage in Mozambique after she worked closely with President Filipe Nyusi.
Her commitment to girls’ education began at the age of nine when she witnessed girls in Accra, Ghana, forced to sell goods instead of attending school. This inspired Oduwole to use documentary filmmaking to raise awareness about the barriers to education.
In 2013, she founded “Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up” (DUSUSU), an initiative empowering youth—especially girls—to champion education and gender equality. DUSUSU has since reached young people across Africa and the Caribbean, providing them with the tools to advocate for their rights.
In 2022, Oduwole was awarded the 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Leadership Award for her decade-long efforts in gender equality and diplomacy. She continues to speak out for the rights of marginalized communities, advocating for systemic change and empowering youth to lead the way.
Upon learning of her Nobel Peace Prize nomination, Oduwole expressed gratitude and humility, stating, “I never sought recognition, but only to speak up where it’s needed. This honor reflects the urgent need to invest in young voices as agents of change.”
Oduwole’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize highlights the growing influence of youth-led advocacy and their potential to shape global policy.
Regardless of the outcome, Oduwole’s work is a testament to the power of young voices in advancing peace, education, and equality across the world.
About Zuriel Oduwole
Zuriel Oduwole is a Nigerian-American education advocate, filmmaker, and youth diplomat. Recognized globally for her efforts to improve education access and gender equality, she has engaged with world leaders and organizations to advocate for systemic reforms.
As the founder of “Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up,” Oduwole empowers youth, particularly girls, to be catalysts for change. Through her advocacy, Oduwole continues to inspire a more inclusive and equitable world.
