▪︎Zuriel Oduwole

Zuriel Oduwole, 22, an advocate for peace, education, and gender equality, has been nominated for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

Oduwole has actively engaged in global diplomatic efforts, influencing discussions on education and peace, working to create opportunities for marginalized communities, and promoting meaningful change.

Her nomination recognizes 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 marginalized communities and promoting systemic change.

At 13, Oduwole mediated a territorial dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, meeting with the then-President David Granger at the United Nations to emphasize 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 2017, at just 14, she met with then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department to push for ‘reward-based’ education programs in developing nations, particularly to improve school retention for girls.

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

In 2022, Oduwole received the 8th UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Leadership Award in New York, recognizing her decade-long mediation efforts and advocacy for gender parity.

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 involvement was instrumental in ending child marriage in Mozambique in 2019, following discussions with President Filipe Nyusi.

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, Oduwole expressed humility and surprise. “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,” she said.

The Nobel Peace Prize, one of the world’s most esteemed honors, acknowledges 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 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.

The European Union (EU) has congratulated Angola President, João Lourenço on his election as the new Chairperson of the African Union (AU).

The Angolan leader was elected African Union chair at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government which held in Addis Ababa from Feb. 15 to 16, 2025.

The European bloc congratulated president Lourenço in a message posted on the European External Action Service’s (EEAS) handle.

The EU also congratulated the newly elected Chairperson of the African-Union Commission, Mahmoud Youssouf and his deputy, Selma Haddadi.

The EU said in the post that the year 2025 marked the 25th anniversary of the mutually beneficial partnership between the EU and Africa.

“Africa is a geo-political priority for the EU and we will continue our strong political dialogue and action,” the EU said in the post.

The two leaders were elected and sworn in at the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government which held in Addis Ababa from Feb. 15 to 16.

Both elected officials garnered the required two-thirds majority votes of the 49 member states eligible to vote.

The 60-year-old Youssouf is taking  over the reigns of leadership of the African bloc from former chairperson Moussa Mahamat, who is from Chad. Mahamat served as AU chairman for two consecutive terms since 2017. 

An immigration officer has confirmed that the Republic of Niger no longer recognising Nigerians travelling into the country holding the ECOWAS Travel Certificate (ETC) or ECOWAS passport.

The ECOWAS Travel Certificate (ETC) and ECOWAS passport are travel documents that allow holders to move freely among the member countries of ECOWAS.

The development is coming after Niger, along with Mali and Burkina Faso, recently withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

While Niger maintains an open border with Nigeria, new immigration measures are being enforced at key border crossings, including Illela in Nigeria and Konni in Niger.

Consequently, Cross-border traders and commuters are now facing significant challenges as the Nigerien authorities no longer recognise the ECOWAS passport as a valid travel document.

In a phone interview with an immigration officer at the Jibia/Magama Border in Katsina State late Tuesday, the officer (name withheld), confirmed that Nigerien authorities had begun enforcing the ban.

The officer also mentioned that Nigerian immigration authorities are not yet applying the same restrictions to Nigerien citizens, waiting for further directives from higher authorities to fully implement the measures.

Although no official communication from the Nigerien government yet, affected travellers fear that the situation could worsen, disrupting trade and movement across the border.

When contacted, the Head of Communication ECOWAS Commission, Joel Ahofodji, said the regional bloc was unaware of Niger Republic’s policy to bar ECOWAS passport holders.