22-year-old Nigerian advocate nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

An advocate for peace, education, and gender equality, Zuriel Oduwole, has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. 

At just 22, she has actively engaged in global diplomatic efforts, influencing discussions on education and peace, working to create opportunities for marginalised communities and promote meaningful change. 

Her nomination recognizes her efforts and reflects Nigeria’s growing influence on the global stage.

Born in Los Angeles to Nigerian grandparents, Oduwole has engaged with over 35 world leaders, including presidents and prime ministers, to discuss policy and development issues. Her efforts focus on improving education access for marginalized communities and promoting systemic change.

At 13, Oduwole mediated a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, meeting with then-President David Granger at the United Nations to emphasize the importance of peaceful dialogue. In 2020, she consulted with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on global peace strategies during the Arab blockade of Qatar, which concluded peacefully in 2021.

Her advocacy for education, which she views as fundamental to both development and stability, has been central to her mission from an early age. 

In 2017, at just 14, she met with then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department to push for ‘reward-based’ education programs in developing nations, particularly to improve school retention for girls. 

This engagement with U.S. leadership reinforced her global efforts to promote education as a driver of peace and opportunity.

In 2022, Oduwole received the 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon 

Leadership Award in New York, recognizing her decade-long mediation efforts  and advocacy for gender parity. Her involvement was instrumental in ending child marriage in Mozambique in 2019, following discussions with President Filipe Nyus.

Oduwole’s commitment to education began at nine when she observed young girls in Accra 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) to empower youth, especially girls, to advocate for education and leadership opportunities. The initiative has reached young people across Africa and the Caribbean, providing tools to promote gender equality.

Upon learning of her Nobel Peace Prize nomination, Oduwole expressed 

humility and surprise. “I have never sought recognition, only to speak up where it’s needed,” she said. “This honor reflects the urgent need to invest in young voices as agents of change.”

The Nobel Peace Prize, one of the world’s most esteemed honors, acknowledges individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to peace and human rights. 

Past recipients include Nelson 

Mandela, former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama, Kenyan 

environmentalist Wangari Maathai, and former UN Secretary-General Kofi 

Annan.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee will announce the 2025 laureate later this 

year. Regardless of the outcome, Oduwole’s nomination underscores the growing impact of youth advocacy in global policy and sustainable peace efforts.

Zuriel Oduwole is an American education advocate, filmmaker, and youth 

diplomat dedicated to advancing global education access and gender 

equality. 

Recognized internationally for her efforts, she has engaged with world leaders,policymakers, and organizations to promote systemic reforms in education, while fostering gender parity. 

As the founder of “Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand, she empowers young people, particularly girls, to advocate for their rights and future opportunities. Through storytelling and diplomacy, Oduwole continues to inspire change, influencing policies and creating a more inclusive and equitable world.