Zuriel Oduwole, an advocate for peace, education, and gender equality, has earned a nomination for the prestigious 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
At just 22 years old, she has made significant strides in global diplomacy, championing education access for marginalized communities and fostering meaningful change.
Her nomination is a testament to her dedication and highlights Nigeria’s growing impact on the international stage.
Zuriel Oduwole, a global advocate with Nigerian roots
Born in Los Angeles to Nigerian grandparents, Zuriel Oduwole has engaged with over 35 world leaders—including presidents and prime ministers—to discuss policies that drive development, improve education, and promote peace.
Her work emphasises systemic change, ensuring lasting benefits for disadvantaged communities.
Her diplomatic influence was evident as early as age 13 when she played a role in mediating a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela.
She met with then-President David Granger at the United Nations, advocating for peaceful dialogue as a resolution strategy.
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 as a path to stability for Zuriel Oduwole
Education has been central to Oduwole’s mission from a young age. In 2017, at just 14, she met with then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department to advocate for ‘reward-based’ education programs aimed at improving school retention rates, especially for girls in developing nations. Her engagement with U.S. leadership reinforced her global push for education as a tool for peace and progress.
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.
In recognition of her decade-long commitment to mediation and gender parity, she received the 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Leadership Award in 2022.
Source: Leadership News
