News & Events 2015
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December 2015
KENYA - Annual DUDUSU Award to Kenya First Lady I presented my 2015 First Lady DUSUSU Award to Her Excellency Margaret Kenyatta of KENYA for her work on children's and youth education in her country. Last year, it went to Tanzania First Lady. VIDEO: https://youtu.be/bG9AQy3v1Ck Profiling Kenya Airways To tell the stories of African Business executives working to make a difference, I met and interviewed the CEO of Kenya Airways. I also spent time with the women engineers at the airline. Conducted my First Seminar at Hilton Hotel A true honor. I spoke before 80 women at the Hilton Hotel Nairobi, about education, opportunities, overcoming challenges, having dreams, and they had a lot of questions for me after . I loved it !!! NIGERIA - The DUSUSU Foundation Launch After waiting for 2 years, me and my sisters finally launch the DUSUSU Foundation, so we can create partnerships and help more people, and encourage more youths to go to school, especially Girls NAMIBIA - Taught the San Children class One of the coolest things I got to do. First, I visited Namibia, then spent time with a San tribe community. They taught me how to make fire, I taught their children how to count, and I talked with the women about educating their daughters. The kids liked it. I had a great time !!! |
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November 2015
Ran In First Marathon It was a humid morning in Magodo neighborhood of Lagos - Nigeria. Ran my first Marathon, the under 5KM Race. I won the under 18 category. It was good to show Girls can do anything they want to. Annual SERA's Awards Every year, the SERA's recognizes companies that have a strong CSR program and helps their community. Many companies like Lafarge, SAMSUNG, Total Oil and Dangote won in many categories. I presented the Award to SAMSUNG - best CSR supporting youths. |
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October 2015
NEW YORK - Spoke at Nigerian Higher Education Fund Gala It was a great and true honor to be invited to speak at the annual Nigerian Higher Education Fund Gala in New York, during the UN General Assembly events. They raise money to make Nigerian Universities world class. I support this idea very, very much !!! Met H.E. President David Granger of Guyana to Talk Peace This week, the Secretary General of the UN met with the Presidents of Venezuela and Guyana, to discuss the tension between both countries over a disputed boarder, and to avert military action. I know what war does to children's education, because I met the Presidents of South Sudan and Liberia and spoke with them on education. Both countries have lost years in their children's education development, because of wars. I want to prevent this happening in Guyana and Venezuela, so I went to meet the President of Guyana at the UN to make peace. We children have a voice too. He awarded me his country's Crest of Chief, in appreciation of all my work. |
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September 2015
LAGOS: Held a mini summit on Education with Youths. After my First Lady's maiden edition summit on Education in April 2014, I invited this time high achieving youths and young entrepreneurs to find creative ways to solving the education challenge in Nigeria. More than 10 million children are out of school in Nigeria alone. That is too much a burden for the government alone. We all need to add our ideas and find solutions. ABUJA: Met Envoys To Explore Partnerships on Education I met with several Ambassadors [Tanzania, Cuba, Trinidad & Tobago and the US] to learn what they are doing well in their countries, and also explore partnerships we can build together to help solve the education challenges in Nigeria. My visit to the Internally Displaced Persons [IDP] Camp in Abuja was sad and joyful at the same time. The kids did nothing wrong, to be where they are. But I saw hope, heard dreams, and felt joy that I could help a little. It taught class for the afternoon, my first ever job. Then I spoke at the launch of the "Those Who Inspire" NIGERIA book. It was a true, true honor. Donated copies to the Slum2School library in Makoko - Lagos. I hung out with the kids, spoke to them, we watched part of my film, and we all took a great selfie together with the teachers and volunteers. |
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July 2015
NEW YORK - Spoke At P&G's Confidence Girls Summit. Last year, Always released its first Girls campaign video, titled #LikeAGirl, tackling the negative meaning of the phrase in our societies. On July 7th, Always held a Girls Confidence Summit in New York, and released the second video, titled #Unstoppable Like A Girl. I was a guest speaker at the event, and I co-produced and also co-directed for P&G another video for Always, showcasing my journey as a Girl, and sharing with the world the issues Girls face around the world, during puberty. |
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June 2015
Honored with Invitation to Women In Film [WIF] Awards As a 12 year old film maker, I was honored to be invited to the annual Women In Film Crystal+Lucy Awards in Los Angeles. I was invited as a young film maker to meet celebrated women in the industry. It was attended by actors and directors, like Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Phylicia Rashad, Regina King, Ava DuVernay, and Kate Mara. Met with my 15th Head of State -H.E. President Alpha Conde of Guinea. As the WHO formally signals the end of the Ebola crisis which began in Guinea last year and spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone, the US and Spain, I sat down to talk to President Alpha Conde about this epidemic, that almost blinded the world. I hope to make a short documentary about it. "Their World" Education Charity Event in Los Angeles I was honored to be invited to former First Lady of the UK Sarah Brown's childrens education drive event at the British Consulate Generals resident in Los Angeles |
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May 2015
CNN African Voices Features Zuriel Oduwole As the flagship show on Africa's best and pacesetters, who are re-defining the narrative on the continent, CNN as the Worlds Global News leader features 12 Year Old Zuriel Oduwole for African Voices. In December 2013, New Africa listed her as one of Africa's 100 Most Influential people, along side 3 Presidents and Africa's Richest person; Aliko Dangote. www.cnn.com/2015/04/30/africa/zuriel-oduwole-filmmaker/ |
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April 2015
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - New York Guest speaker at the annual Africa Economic Forum [AEF] at Columbia University - New York. Theme: Africa "Beyond Potentials". A Promising Africa Documentary travels to South Africa, Ghana and Tokyo - Japan, to great and exciting reception. It has now showed in 5 countries, including Nigeria and the United Kingdom. SOUTH AFRICA - Zuriel speaks to students at the University of Pretoria. She is welcomed to SA by Deputy Tourism Minister Xosa, and tours a school in Soweto. She is a guest at the South Africa Film Awards, presents 2 awards, and guest appears on CNBC, Bloomberg TV and several local TV networks. Bloomberg TV Video: www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpfqIOvoILg GHANA - Zuriel addresses students at Ashesi University. She presents her annual Gender Minister Award to Hon Nana Oye Lithur, speaks to students at De Young school, and meets with President Jerry Rawlings. She guest appears on GTV and OK FM Radio. JAPAN - Zuriel addresses the Japanese media, and a delegation of many African Ambassadors, including the Ambassadors of Ghana, Nigeria, Benin and Burkina Faso, to Japan. She is interviewed by Nikkei Global Media - Tokyo, for its women's empowerment program. |
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March 2015
ELLE Magazine, the worlds largest women's fashion and style magazine with 40 editions in more than 60 countries, released the annual list of "33 Women Who Impacted The World" in 2014. 12 Year Old Zuriel Oduwole, is at number 21 listed in ELLE Canada, because of her [5] main projects in 2014. They include I) hosting a first ladies colloquy on education, II) premiering her first documentary to show in a cinema chain III) talking to children in Africa and Europe on Education, IV) launching a children's hand hygiene campaign during the Ebola crisis in Africa, and V) taking 2 Footballs across the globe during the FIFA World Cup, to make the children's Education topic more exciting. SPOKE TO 16000 CHILDREN: EDUCATION & EMPOWERMENT An honor to address 16,000+ screaming and cheering students at the annual We Day in San Jose - CA. Spoke on Economic Empowerment and Education. Another opportunity to show children are hungry for change, to show kindness, and give hope. Our Day is "We Day" see www.weday.com |
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February 2015
Zuriel Shoots First US TV Commercial for e-Education Enlightenment In May 2014, Zuriel gave her first media "education policy speech" in London, after inviting First Lady's to an education development colloquy in Lagos earlier in April 2014. Policy VIDEO: http://youtu.be/svDyYL3-Abs e-Learning was the focus of her policy. She has just partnered with the worlds biggest learning company; Pearson, for a public enlightenment campaign TV commercial, about the flexibility and benefits of e-Learning as a tool for revolutionizing basic learning. TV https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmUQtKbys08 Zuriel hopes this would change the world's understanding of the benefits and values of e-Learning, especially in light of the United Nations 2015 MDG of Universal Primary Education to benefit Africa, in line with her policy beliefs. |
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January 2015
After the successful premier of Zuriel's documentary film "A Promising Africa" in Lagos in November 2014 and the showing at Film House Cinema in Lagos, it headed to London in December 2014. Because of huge requests by schools, churches, parents and ordinary individuals for their children and youths to see it again in Nigeria and be inspired by, the film returned this time to Genesis Deluxe Cinema in Lekki Mall, and ended its run on Monday January 26th. It showed alongside Hollywood big budget films Annie, with Academy Award Winner Jamie Foxx, Fury with Brad Pitt, and TAKEN 3, with Academy Award Winners Liam Neeson & Forest Whitaker. Next stop - USA ! |