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Tag: Zuriel Oduwole

  • Meet 22-yr-old Nigerian Zuriel Oduwole nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

    Meet 22-yr-old Nigerian Zuriel Oduwole nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

    Zuriel Oduwole is not a name that suddenly leapt out of nowhere. Through sheer hard work and pristine service, she has risen to the ranks of her career. 

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

    For Nigeria, beyond the pride of having a compatriot getting nominated, this latest feat has elicited pride among Nigerians, Africans and women worldwide.

    The flurry of congratulations pouring in for Oduwole clearly confirms the saying that “success has many relatives” and that “failure is an orphan.”

    The Nobel peace prize, one of the world’s most esteemed honours, acknowledges individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to peace and human rights.

    Read Also: FG unveils plan to tackle growing unsafe water crisis

    Past recipients include Nelson Mandela, former US 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.

    Oduwole didn’t begin her advocacy today. She has demonstrated the rare eloquence, determination among her peers and for standing out in the midst of others.

    Oduwole’s feat shows that women, globally, are challenging the status quo by contributing immensely and working hard. They are self-confident and not afraid to push all the boundaries required to breast the tape in whatever field they choose.

    Nigerian ancestry have succeeded and are still succeeding which is why it’s no surprise that many hold prominent positions on the global stage.

    In 2013, Oduwole founded “Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up” (DUSUSU) to empower youths, especially girls, to advocate for education and leadership opportunities.

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

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

    That is not all. Her involvement was instrumental in ending child marriage in Mozambique in 2019, following discussions with President Filipe Nyus, to mention a few of her outstanding achievements.

    Her nomination recognises 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 marginalised communities and promoting systemic change.

    Meanwhile, the list of Nigerian descent that are making waves across the globe is non-exhaustive, and Oduwole’s nomination has once again proven the point that peace, education and all other areas are not exclusively to the male club.

    At 13, Oduwole mediated a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, meeting with then-President David Granger at the United Nations to emphasise 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 2022, Oduwole received the 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Leadership Award in New York, recognising 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 did not stumble on stardom by accident but intricately sketched her way to the top to earn this nomination. It was a hard climb, assisted, as all such are, by perseverance. 

  • 22-year old Nigerian nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

    22-year old Nigerian nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

    Zuriel Oduwole, an advocate for peace, education, and gender equality, 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 recognises her efforts and reflects Nigeria’s growing influence on the global stage.

    Borrn in Los Angeles to Nigerian grandparents, Miss 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 marginalised communities and promoting systemic change.

    At 13, Miss Oduwole mediated a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, meeting with then-President David Granger at the United Nations to emphasise 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.

    Miss Oduwole’s 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 US Secretary of State, John Kerry at the State Department to push for ‘reward-based’ education programmes in developing nations, particularly to improve school retention for girls.

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

    In 2022, Miss Oduwole received the 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Leadership Award in New York, recognising 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.

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

    Read Also: Why Nigeria intervened in Liberia’s civil war, by Babangida

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

    Past recipients include Nelson Mandela, former US 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, Miss Oduwole’s nomination underscores the growing impact of youth advocacy in global policy and sustainable peace efforts.

    The Lady Zuriel

    About the Nominee

    Zuriel Oduwole is an American education advocate, filmmaker, and youth diplomat dedicated to advancing global education access and gender equality.

    Recognised internationally for her efforts, she has engaged with world leaders, policymakers, and organisations 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, Miss Oduwole continues to inspire change, influencing policies and creating a more inclusive and equitable world.

  • Sahara Group, Zuriel Oduwole collaborate to empower girl-child

    With statistics indicating that 15 million girls of primary school age – half of them in sub-Saharan Africa – will never enter a classroom, an energy conglomerate, Sahara Group, is providing empowerment platform that would give wings to the aspirations of the African girl child.

    Tagged: “Empowering the African Girl Child”, the project is being implemented under Sahara’s Grooming Film Extrapreneurs initiative, which seeks to promote economic empowerment through the arts.

    Sahara Foundation in collaboration with Zuriel Oduwole, young film maker and advocate for girl child education and gender equality will host a film making session for 90 African girls in Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’ Ivoire between January 8 and17, 2018 to give the beneficiaries a head start in pursuing a career in the creative arts.

    According to Head, Corporate Communications, Sahara Group, Bethel Obioma, the project is expected to drive the advocacy message for girls’ rights, highlight key issues affecting girls across the three African countries and equip 90 girls with the foundational skills required to become film makers. “We plan to identify and empower girls, who have shown a talent for film making and/or production. Our hope is that the initiative would inspire and replicate Zuriel’s success among other girls of her age in Africa. Above all, Sahara Group is particularly passionate about the fact that the project would give traction to ongoing conversations and interventions geared towards the pursuit of Gender Equality and Quality Education, being Goals 4 and 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals,” he said.

    Speaking on her partnership with Sahara, Oduwole said she was hopeful that the success of the project would encourage more corporations around the world to create partnerships with small groups to empower more girls across the globe.

    “I like the fact that Sahara Group sees some value in what I am doing with Girls’ Education across the world, and just like the African proverb, if you want to go fast, go alone, and if you want to go far, go together. I think I have gone very fast in the last five years, since I started my project at age 10. Sahara has shown that they are serious about Girls’ Education, so it’s easy for me to create a partnership, so we can do more together, for Girls’ Education in Africa, and also around the world,” said the teenage film maker, who at the age of 12 had her self- produced movie screened in a commercial cinema.

    Manager, Sahara Foundation, Oluseyi Ojurongbe, said the film making workshop would run for two days in each of the three countries. “The participants will be expected to execute a joint docu-film project featuring human angle stories of children across Africa, using their countries as case studies, to highlight challenges, opportunities and aspirations of the girl child in Nigeria, Ghana or Cote D’Ivoire.”

    Ojurongbe explained that 90 girls (30 from each country) between age 13 and 19 have been identified across the three African countries as beneficiaries based on their interests in film making. “The physical workshop training will be accompanied by several on-line and classroom based mentorship/follow-up sessions for six months to track and sustain the progress of the beneficiaries. At Sahara, we are hopeful that the platform would amplify the cause of empowering the girl child across the continent though the voices of the beneficiaries and millions of other girls that would be inspired to reach for their dreams,” he added.

  • We’ll move Nigeria forward as quickly as possible, says Buhari

    We’ll move Nigeria forward as quickly as possible, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians in the diaspora of his administration’s determination to move the country forward as rapidly as possible.

    He spoke at an audience on Saturday in Washington with a group of Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various professions in the United States.

    President Buhari said that the present administration is fully committed to correcting the errors that have hindered Nigeria’s progress as a nation.

    Buhari, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “We are determined to get things done properly this time and God willing, we shall succeed.

    “We are working diligently to correct our mistakes as a nation. We will rehabilitate and expand national infrastructure, and move forward as quickly as possible,” the President assured the group.

    He also said that his administration will maintain contacts with Nigerian professionals in the diaspora and see how they can be best placed to contribute effectively to national development if they choose to come back home.

    The President congratulated the five Nigerians he met with for their exceptional accomplishments, saying that he was very proud of them all.

    The Nigerians received by President Buhari included Prof. Austin Esogbue, the only African to have served on the board of the United States’ National Aeronautical Space Agency.

    Others were Jelani Aliyu, a leading car designer with General Motors, Prof. Nwadiuto Esiobu, a renowned Microbiologist and Biochemist, Dr. Yemi Badero, an Assistant Professor of Medicine and 13-year old Zuriel Oduwole who has interviewed 18 world leaders.

  • Getting ready to birth new star

    Getting ready to birth new star

    Giving the young ones new opportunities usually bring out the best in them. Yetunde Oladeinde takes a look at a new talent hunt for children that seek to empower them in different areas of life.

    ZURIEL Oduwole and Malala are young girls, but they have made a mark all over the world. They discovered their innate talents and ran with it in a positive way. Naturally, there is some hidden talent and skill in every child which many leave untapped, which has resulted in so many idle hands and brains in the society today.

    Interestingly, a group of Nigerian women have come together to seek ways to empower the average Nigerian child through a talent hunt project tagged “Star Rising.” Kay Ovia, the CEO of Quantum Markets and initiator of the talent hunt, declares that they would be showcasing talent in singing, dance and mastery of musical instruments. “This is a long term thing and not just the one-off thing where only prizes are given. We plan to make the children arm themselves with adequate knowledge, to restore what some of the children have lost as well as make them believe in themselves.”

    In addition, Ovia went on to say: “Most talent hunt projects attract a fee, but this one is free. It is not to make money, so the entry and audition is totally free. It is an opportunity to come and have an enabling environment to showcase your talent. We are here to mentor, coach them and at the end of the day they would become great patriots for the nation.”

    Ovia continued: “We also have an academic and mental exercise for students of the senior secondary school bracket. Contestants would be quizzed on subjects such as Mathematics, English, General Knowledge, current global affairs and the sciences.”

    The vision, Ovia explained, would be to use the star rising centres across Nigeria to create outstanding patriots who will be able to hold their own on the world’s centre stage. “We are going to discover, hone and nurture God-given talents. This would be done through free counselling and mentoring programmes for children within the age bracket of seven to 17 years. Sadly, a number of projects people have for children are actually for teenagers.”

    She added:  “It would not just be about singing and dancing alone but developing talents in different areas. The team will therefore be providing talent development classes. We will also provide a well equipped modern library. The mastermind is for the teenagers, especially those in upper secondary school. To make our selections, we did not go to schools for the rich and famous. There are lots of children that do not have the opportunity that need to be reached. These are our targets and that is why we are going to government schools and the orphanages. You would be amazed at the raw talents that we found in these schools and I know that the judges would select the best.”

    Safety and security measures, Ovia informed, have also been put in place during the audition and grand finale. “Preparations for the project started from February and we have the consent of parents and guardians. I really believe in the children who are the future of our country. We would inspire them and teach them how to innovate.”

    Ngozi Eze, a member of the team, opined that “there is a need to give the young ones a better direction.” This is the first edition and we are working with 25 schools randomly across Lagos State. When we got to some of the schools selected, the team was amazed with the enthusiasm shown by the students. We are going to pick two students from each school. There is enthusiasm in the air and Christmas is around the corner.”

    Eze stated that “there is a second part to the project and it is called, ‘The mastermind’. Unfortunately, schools did not resume early this year because of Ebola and we have moved this to be a major event next year. The motive is to tell the young ones that you can’t do anything without education. This is very important, so that our young people do not end up as all talents and no brains.”

    Children, Eze stressed, cannot afford to be in the background because a lot of things have changed, thanks to technology. “The initiative would help to push our kids in the right direction. The truth is that most of our children are stars.  All they need is encouragement that they can do it. A number of those who would be mentoring and monitoring these children are heavyweights in the entertainment industry. The list includes Kaffy, Sasha, Nedu, Chidinma and Davido. Our desire is to make it nationwide and by next year we would take entries from different parts of the country.”

  • Zuriel in Hollywood, meets Bill Cosby

    Zuriel in Hollywood, meets Bill Cosby

    Nigeria’s girl-child education campaigner Zuriel Oduwole has taken her crusade to Hollywood in the United States during which she met with legendary actor and comedian, Bill Cosby, of the famed successful 90’s TV series – The Cosby Show.

    Zuriel spoke to Mr. Bill Cosby about Nigeria, the challenges in Africa and the beautiful things about the continent.

    Bill Cosby was impressed about the brightness, courage, and determination of someone so young, who reminded him of his own daughter many years ago.

    The US Network NBC is in final talks to start a new TV show in 2015, to star Bill Cosby. She would like him to visit Nigeria someday.

    Zuriel was invited as the youngest guest on the popular cooking TV show Naija Bites, which taped in Hollywood Hills – California. The edition would show next month across Africa on DSTV and OHTV in the UK and across Europe.

    Her third documentary about a rising Africa comes out in late November 2014, and the first country of focus, is Nigeria.

    It then debut’s in London early next month.

  • Zuriel Oduwole shines at Nollywood Movies Awards night

    Zuriel Oduwole shines at Nollywood Movies Awards night

    Though the 2014 Nollywood Movies Awards night described as the centenary celebration has come and gone, not a few who witnessed the colourful event will easily forget the face of 12-year-old Zuriel Oduwole whose presence elicited interesting comments by the guests.

    From the moment she walked into the expansive Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of the show, Oduwole, who was a special guest, was bombarded by cameramen.

    The honour was done her following her award-winning documentary in 2013 and her current documentary.

    The youngster was invited by some TV networks to speak to their audiences and inspire the children who watch it.

    The host, Denrele, stated that he is a big fan of Oduwole, having listened to her, a couple of days earlier, on the TITI radio show, where she talked about her current work with children on basic hand hygiene.

    Half way into the show, she was invited to the stage to give her version of the event and introduce the anchor of the night in her own words.

    Oduwole is currently putting finishing touches to her third documentary due for release before the end of the year. It focuses on a brighter Africa, starting with Nigeria as part of her “Rebranding Africa” initiative.

    In attendance at the glamorous event were actors, producers, directors and movie buffs, among other eminent personalities.

  • Zuriel Oduwole shines at Nollywood Movies Awards night

    Zuriel Oduwole shines at Nollywood Movies Awards night

    Though the 2014 Nollywood Movies Awards night described as the centenary celebration has come and gone, not a few who witnessed the colourful event will easily forget the face of 12-year-old Zuriel Oduwole whose presence elicited interesting comments by the guests.

    From the moment she walked into the expansive Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, venue of the show, Oduwole, who was a special guest, was bombarded by cameramen.

    The honour was done her following her award-winning documentary in 2013 and her current documentary.

    The youngster was invited by some TV networks to speak to their audiences and inspire the children who watch it.

    The host, Denrele, stated that he is a big fan of Oduwole, having listened to her, a couple of days earlier, on the TITI radio show, where she talked about her current work with children on basic hand hygiene.

    Half way into the show, she was invited to the stage to give her version of the event and introduce the anchor of the night in her own words.

    Oduwole is currently putting finishing touches to her third documentary due for release before the end of the year. It focuses on a brighter Africa, starting with Nigeria as part of her “Rebranding Africa” initiative.

    In attendance at the glamorous event were actors, producers, directors and movie buffs, among other eminent personalities.

  • #FollowTheBallForEducation project

    #FollowTheBallForEducation project

    Mauritius Minister of Gender Development - Hon Mireille Martins signing Zuriel Oduwole's ball during her visit to promote the #FollowTheBallForEducation project
    Mauritius Minister of Gender Development – Hon Mireille Martins signing Zuriel Oduwole’s ball during her visit to promote the #FollowTheBallForEducation project

  • Why educate our girls – The Chibok Family

    Why educate our girls – The Chibok Family

    Zuriel Prime Minster of St Vincent & The Grenadines
    Zuriel Prime Minster of St Vincent & The Grenadines

    If to Educate means to give ‘Intellectual’ and ‘Moral’ instructions to someone, usually a child, then it is the responsibility of the society in which such children live to ensure their future generation are indeed, well educated, as a strategic tool of sustaining their economic and social security, for generations unborn. Many years ago, the United States was seen as the bedrock of intellectual education and the beacon of business and economic literacy to the rest of the world.

    The last decade has seen an obvious shift of that trend, eastwards as more of the current generation of youths and children are, for the first time, open to the same technology platform as their counterparts in the West, but particularly the United States. As telecommunications frontiers has opened up, broadband makes for instant video calls across thousands of miles and across oceans, while the lightning speed fingers of Asian and African kids means talking to, contacting, sharing music with, or writing programs with their friends and relatives civilizations away in the US and Europe are just seconds, greetings, and perhaps a smile away these days.

    Young boys and girls are a ready army into this very exciting trend and phenomena. They have become bolder than their parents’ generation, more inquisitive than their older siblings, and even more daring that those who led just barely 24 hours earlier.

    One such child is a young Nigerian Girl – 11 Year Old Zuriel Oduwole. There is nothing special about her. She plays, has dreams, does house chores, runs errands for her parents, fights with her younger sister occasionally, rides her bicycle, plays video games, except that on the side, she bothers and interviews world leaders about the need to expand Girls Education in Africa, and also makes documentaries to tell her African story. Zuriel has met with and interviewed 1 in 6 of Africa’s Presidents and Prime Ministers, has been featured in global magazines like Forbes, and appeared on global TV networks like the BBC. She held a first Lady’s Colloquy last month in Nigeria to find practical solutions to the issue of Girls’ Education, and one day, hopes to be President.

    There is nothing special about what Zuriel is doing, or perhaps maybe there is. But the definitive issue is she is educated and is still being educated, at age 11. That is what the girls in Chibok Secondary school were doing – getting an education, before they were taken away against their will. They were very much in line with what Zuriel is fighting for – the continued education of the African Girl Child.

    Nigeria’s economy is for all practical purposes, in the hands of [2] women – the minister of finance, and the minister of petroleum. They are both very educated, and they were once the ages of Zuriel, and the Chibok Girls. They had dreams, and are perhaps living their dreams as key figures in the Nigerian Government.

    Zuriel and Prime Minister of St Kitts & Nevis
    Zuriel and Prime Minister of St Kitts & Nevis

    Zuriel has now added more leaders to her list of very impressive interviewees, which now includes the Prime Minister of St Vincent & The Grenadines – The Honorable Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, and the Prime Minister of St Kitts & Nevis – The Right Honorable Dr. Denzil Douglas. She is making the case for educating the Girls in the Caribbean region, having a few months ago already sat down with the Prime Minister of Jamaica – The Right Honorable Portia Simpson Miller. But how can she hold court with world leaders and global business leaders such as Aliko Dangote whom she has also interviewed, if she was not educated.

    Let’s Educate our Girls, lets release ALL of Nigeria’s potentials. There are many Zuriel’s out there, waiting to lift the country to its fullest potential. For the sake of the hurting parents and their families, lets secure the release of the Chibok school girls, so they can contribute to the full development of the emerging African brand, called Nigeria.