Zuriel Oduwole’s #FollowtheBallforEducation Campaign may Change the World – Seni Adetu, MD/CEO Guinness Nigeria

Yes, we all followed that famous ball in Brazil, as the World Cup 2014 held the world captive. Remarkably, 11-year-old Documentary Maker & Girl’s Education Activist, Zuriel Oduwole, took out time from the games and holiday to use the unifying World Cup to ask world leaders to

invest further in the education of the Girl Child. Zuriel, who was making a documentary on the need for education, was the youngest person ever interviewed by Forbes Magazine for a full length feature article.

With her project called #FollowtheBallforEducation, Zuriel’s goal was to visit 6 nations on three continents, with leading personalities signing her balls. She has been hosted in the UK, Brazil and Ethiopia. In June, Zuriel arrived in Nigeria where she has been honoured by several leaders. The young visionary also gave her first policy speech when hosted by the First Ladies of Lagos State, Osun State and Tanzania at Eko Hotel in Lagos.

And on Friday 4th July 2014, Zuriel was hosted and her #FollowtheBallforEducation campaign endorsed by Guinness Nigeria Plc., a part of Diageo, one of the most trusted and respected consumer product companies in the world.

Receiving the #FollowtheBallforEducation team, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Seni Adetu, said the company just could not ignore young Zuriel’s exemplary tour.

Zuriel Oduwole & Seni Adetu (Guinness M.D.)

Adetu added “Football is a universal passion and Guinness Nigeria happens to be an official sponsor and number one supporter of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, the Nigerian national team. As such, #FollowtheBallforEducation campaign strikes a chord with us, especially because Guinness Nigeria Foundation also awards scholarships to young persons across Nigeria. We believe in the privilege of giving both boys and girls equal opportunities. Education, really, is about awareness. Next to air, I would say education is one of the biggest gifts that God gave to man. It is delightful to see someone like Zuriel, a really young person and Nigerian, stand up from among others in the world and go round the nations to call our attention to this. We could not ignore her tour because we appreciate what Zuriel is doing.”

See more photos of her visit to Guinness Nigeria below. Zuriel’s next stops were South Africa and Mauritius!