FACTS ABOUT ZURIEL ODUWOLE - MOST INFLUENTIAL YOUNG NIGERIAN IN AFRICA.

Zuriel Oduwole and John Kerry

Three months ago, there were raving about the amazing Zuriel Oduwole, a 14-year old female education advocate and filmmaker who has met with over 23 presidents and prime ministers to discuss education policy issues including the leaders of Nigeria, Kenya, and Liberia.

Well, the impressive Zuriel just made history as the youngest person in the world to formally meet with a US secretary in his office to talk policy-related and global issues, when she met with John Kerry a few days ago.


We talked about education, and all the State Department has done in the last 4 years on this issue. Like me, he believes if all the people in a society are included especially girls and women then that society will be much better.” - She said.
Zuriel has already spoken to more than 24,900 young people across 11 countries, and taught more than 305 of them in her Film Making 101 Class and at only 14, she is just getting started.

As at Eleven year old Zuriel Oduwole was listed as one of the 100 Most Influential Africans in New African Magazine recently.

Well just in case you are wondering how this young girl came to be about her fame, here are some facts that should give you an insight:

1. Zuriel Oduwole is the first Nigerian African Girl-Child educational campaigner.

2. At age eleven, Zuriel had interviewed nine incumbent heads of state; all of whom are still in office today. She has also interviewed African billionaire Aliko Dangote, and tennis queens Venus and Serena Williams among other popular figures. As a result, she has drawn comparisons to Oprah Winfrey and Larry King for her remarkable ability in interviewing notable personalities.

3. Zuriel is reputed to be the first African child to be appointed honorary ambassador position by a foreign government. She was conferred with an ambassadorial status in Tanzania by the country’s first lady, Mrs. Salma Kikwete in 2013.

4. Zuriel’s name is of Hebrew origin, which means “God is my Rock”. She holds a belief that if she can walk a mile, she can inspire other girls to walk a mile and half.

5. Recently, Zuriel was announced as Global Ambassador for the Ethiopian Airlines. The airline will be Zuriel’s official carrier across three continents to help her with the campaign for girl child education with world leaders.

6. Zuriel stands out as the first ten-year old to be accredited as a correspondent at a World Press Conference in attendance with other correspondnets from CNN, CNBC, and Reuters.

7. Zuriel is officially the first ten-year old to feature in Forbes Magazine.

8. Zuriel began her mission at age 9 when she had to interview Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings as part of a school project. It was on that project she discovered the educational disadvantages of the girl child.

9. Through her Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up initiative, Zuriel is empowering young girls and re-branding the image of Africa.
More photos below:

Zuriel with her sister, former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo (left) and President of Ghana, John Kufuor (right)