Lagos – In a historic feat, 22-year-old Nigerian Zuriel Oduwole has been nominated for the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. This nomination recognizes her tireless advocacy for peace, education, and gender equality globally.
Born in Los Angeles to Nigerian grandparents, Oduwole has been a vocal champion for marginalized communities, particularly in Africa and the Caribbean. Her remarkable journey began at the age of nine when she witnessed young girls in Accra selling goods instead of attending school. This experience sparked her passion for education advocacy, leading her to use documentary filmmaking as a tool to raise awareness about educational barriers.
Oduwole’s achievements are impressive. At 13, she mediated a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, meeting with then-President David Granger at the United Nations. A year later, she met with then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry to push for ‘reward-based’ education programs in developing nations.
In 2013, she founded “Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up” (DUSUSU), an initiative that empowers youth, especially girls, to champion education and leadership opportunities. Her advocacy has led to tangible policy shifts, including her involvement in ending child marriage in Mozambique in 2019.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee’s nomination of Oduwole for the Nobel Peace Prize acknowledges her dedication to creating lasting change and promoting peace globally. As Oduwole herself said, “I have never sought recognition—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 work has been recognized globally, with her receiving the 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Leadership Award in 2022. Her advocacy has also led to collaborations with world leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, with whom she consulted on peace strategies amid the Arab blockade of Qatar.
The winner of the Nobel Peace Prize will be announced later this year. Regardless of the outcome, Zuriel Oduwole’s nomination highlights the growing impact of youth-driven advocacy in shaping global policy and fostering sustainable peace.
As the world awaits the announcement of the Nobel Peace Prize winner, Oduwole’s nomination serves as a beacon of hope for the power of young people to create positive change. Her story is a testament to the impact that one person can have when they dedicate themselves to a cause greater than themselves.
