Nigeria’s Zuriel Oduwole Nominated for 2025 Nobel Peace Prize

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

At 22, Oduwole has engaged with world leaders to drive policy changes, particularly in education access and social reforms.

Born in Los Angeles to Nigerian grandparents, she has met with over 35 presidents and prime ministers, working to empower marginalized communities.

Her diplomatic efforts date back to age 13 when she mediated a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela at the United Nations.

She later advised Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on peace strategies during the Arab blockade of Qatar, which ended in 2021.

Committed to education as a tool for stability, Oduwole met then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in 2017 to advocate for ‘reward-based’ learning programs in developing nations.

Her work contributed to ending child marriage in Mozambique in 2019 following discussions with President Filipe Nyusi.

In 2022, she received the Ban Ki-moon Leadership Award in recognition of her decade-long mediation and advocacy.

Through her initiative, “Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up,” she continues to inspire youth, particularly girls, to push for educational and leadership opportunities.

Reacting to her nomination, Oduwole expressed humility, saying, “I have never sought recognition, only to speak up where it’s needed. This honor reflects the need to invest in young voices as agents of change.”

The Nobel Peace Prize, one of the world’s most prestigious honors, has previously been awarded to figures like Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, and Wangari Maathai.

The 2025 laureate will be announced later this year.