Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
Zuriel Oduwole, a champion of peace, education, and gender equality, has been nominated for the prestigious 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. At just 22 years old, she has already made a significant impact in global diplomacy, advocating for education access in marginalized communities and championing policies that drive meaningful change.
Truth Live News reports that her nomination is testament to her dedication to global development and highlights Nigeria’s growing influence on the international stage.
Born in Los Angeles to Nigerian grandparents, Oduwole has engaged with over 35 world leaders, including presidents and prime ministers, to discuss policies that improve education, drive development, and promote peace.
Her diplomatic influence was evident from a young age. At just 13 years old, she played a role in mediating a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, meeting with then-President David Granger at the United Nations and advocating for peaceful dialogue.
Similarly, in 2020, she consulted with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on peace strategies amid the Arab blockade of Qatar, which was resolved peacefully the following year.
Education has been at the heart of Oduwole’s mission. In 2017, at just 14, she met with then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to advocate for ‘reward-based’ education programs aimed at improving school retention rates, particularly for girls in developing nations.
Her advocacy has led to tangible policy shifts. Notably, her involvement played a role in ending child marriage in Mozambique in 2019, following discussions with President Filipe Nyusi.
Recognizing her decade-long commitment to mediation and gender equality, Oduwole was awarded the 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Leadership Award in 2022.
Oduwole’s passion for education advocacy was ignited at age nine, when she saw young girls in Accra, Ghana, selling goods instead of attending school. This experience inspired her to use documentary filmmaking to raise awareness about educational barriers.
In 2013, she founded Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up (DUSUSU)—an initiative that empowers youth, particularly girls, to champion education and leadership. The initiative has reached young people across Africa and the Caribbean, equipping them with tools to promote gender equality.