Zuriel Oduwole, the 13year old political journalist and film maker

Born to a Nigerian father and Mauritian mother, Zuriel Oduwole is an amazing blend of passion, vision, beauty and intelligence. Her accomplishments might make you wish to relive your teenage years. It all started three years ago when Oduwole decided to enter a school documentary-making competition with a film about the Ghana revolution.

Apart from her good looks, what stuns me about this 13 year old pacesetter, is her reverence and love for God. It is evident that she is something special. At age 10, Zuriel was featured in Forbes magazine, a feat that is yet to be achieved even by some outstanding fifty year olds. In spite of all her achievements and feats she is always quick to return all the glory to God. Her Facebook posts are usually laced with lines of thanksgiving to God.

Since her first interview with Jerry Rawlings at age 9, there has been no looking back. She has interviewed presidents and prime ministers in Kenya, Liberia, South Sudan and Jamaica among other countries, and celebrities, such as Aliko Dangote of Nigeria and the Tennis Queens, the Williams sisters.

Zuriel was named one of the world’s 100 most powerful individuals by Business Insider magazine, invited to attend the African Union’s 50th anniversary conference, selected as Global Brand Ambassador for Ethiopian Airlines, and Heritage Bank’s Financial Literacy Ambassador in Nigeria.

She is also an advocate of education of the African girl child. She makes it clear with everything she does, and every opportunity she has to speak, that her goal is to inspire young black women such as herself, and that she is  “concerned that not every girl has a right to get an education or a chance to accomplish her dreams like she does.”

Greater heights Zuriel. I wish you the best