At just 22 years old, Zuriel Oduwole stands as one of the most compelling young voices in global development and advocacy today. A 2025 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, she has spent over a decade shaping international dialogue on girls' education, youth empowerment, and climate resilience. Since the age of 10, Zuriel has used the power of storytelling and diplomacy to drive meaningful change, becoming a globally recognised speaker, educator, and filmmaker. Her work has taken her across 21 countries, where she has spoken to over 51,000 young people, helping them see their potential and realise the power of education. She is a shining example of how conviction, vision, and persistence can spark global transformation.
Zuriel’s achievements are not only extraordinary for her age - they are extraordinary, full stop. She was honoured at 14 by then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who called her “the world’s most powerful girl” for her advocacy work. She has met one-on-one with more than 35 Presidents and Prime Ministers, including leaders from Egypt, Mozambique, Jamaica, and Fiji, advising them on education policy, climate change, and social development. Notably, at just 15, she met with President Filipe Nyusi and played a key role in the 2019 legislative ban on child marriage in Mozambique, following her high-level engagement with the country's leadership. Zuriel brings more than passion to her advocacy - she brings measurable impact, even in the most complex global spaces.
A pioneering filmmaker, Zuriel directed her first documentary at age nine and by 12 had released a full-length film screened across the U.S., U.K., South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, and Japan. Her ability to merge creative storytelling with social issues has not only inspired global audiences but also provided tangible skills to hundreds of young women through her film education workshops across Africa and Central America. Through the DUSUSU Foundation, which she co-founded, Zuriel continues to champion education for girls and youth across developing nations. She uses media and public engagement to shift perceptions and promote solutions, not just sympathy. In 2022, she received the 8th UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon Leadership Award, was a 2025 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, and, most recently, was awarded the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award, highlighting her incredible work to better the lives of others.
Zuriel is also an accomplished academic, having graduated from UCLA at just 19, and is now pursuing a graduate degree in global risk and international affairs. She brings to every stage an unmatched authenticity, blending her experiences as a filmmaker, peace mediator, and youth leader. Zuriel has delivered multiple TEDx talks, including 'Raising Your Hands High', and has addressed leaders at COP23, the UN, UNESCO, MiSK Global Conference, Forbes Leading Women Summit and SXSW Women Conference. Her work has been featured on CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, Elle and Forbes. Whether she is addressing world leaders or schoolchildren, Zuriel speaks with conviction and clarity - showing that age is no barrier to impact, and that a single voice can indeed change the world.
