A 22-year-old Nigerian advocate and filmmaker, Zuriel Oduwole, has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, making her the youngest nominee in the award’s history.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee announced the nomination on Monday, February 24, in Oslo, Norway.
Oduwole, a dedicated champion of peace, education, and gender equality, has played a key role in global diplomatic efforts, shaping discussions on education and peace while working to create opportunities for underserved communities.
Her nomination not only recognizes her contributions but also underscores Nigeria’s growing global influence.
Born in Los Angeles, USA, to Nigerian grandparents, Oduwole has engaged with over 35 world leaders, including presidents and prime ministers, advocating for policy and development initiatives. Her work focuses on expanding educational opportunities for marginalized groups and fostering long-term social change.
At just 13, she played a role in mediating a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, meeting with then-President David Granger at the United Nations to emphasize the importance of peaceful negotiations.
In 2020, she advised Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on global peace strategies amid the Arab blockade of Qatar, which was peacefully resolved in 2021.
Oduwole has been a strong advocate for education, believing it to be a crucial driver of progress and stability.
In 2014, she met with then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department to promote ‘reward-based’ education programs aimed at improving school retention rates for girls in developing nations. This meeting reinforced her global push for education as a tool for peace and opportunity.
In recognition of her decade-long efforts in mediation and gender equality advocacy, she received the 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Leadership Award in New York in 2022. She also played a key role in ending child marriage in Mozambique in 2019 following discussions with President Filipe Nyusi. Her passion for education began at the age of nine when she witnessed young girls in Accra, Ghana, working as street vendors instead of attending school. This experience inspired her to use documentary filmmaking to shed light on educational barriers. In 2013, she founded Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up (DUSUSU), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young people, especially girls, to advocate for education and leadership. The initiative has reached youth across Africa and the Caribbean, equipping them with the tools to drive gender equality.
Reacting to her nomination, Oduwole expressed both humility and surprise, saying, “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.”
The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the world’s most prestigious honors, recognizing 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 winner of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize will be announced later this year. Regardless of the outcome, Oduwole’s nomination highlights the increasing role of young advocates in shaping global policy and advancing sustainable peace.
