By Oluchi Obiahu
Every year, the world pauses on September 21, International Day of Peace, to reflect on what peace really means. The UN’s
theme, “Act Now for a Peaceful World,” ignites a call to action that resonates louder than ever. As conflicts rage in Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan, and beyond, it’s the unsung heroes, grassroots hustlers and quiet diplomats, who are stitching harmony into the chaos. Our Spotlight segment turns the lens on four game-changers who embody this urgency, proving that peace is a hustle.
Omowumi Ogunrotimi: Empowering Girls In Nigeria’s Shadows
Omowumi Ogunrotimi, a 2025 Global Citizen Prize winner and Commonwealth awardee, founded the Gender Mobile Initiative to smash the chains of child marriage and gender-based violence. Through mobile clinics and fierce advocacy, she’s transforming survivors into leaders who command their own destinies.
Why she’s lit: In a world where inequality fuels conflict, Omowumi’s work is peacebuilding at its core. Her grassroots grind, think pop-up clinics in rural Nigeria teaching girls their rights, tackles the roots of unrest head-on. Post-Peace Day, her story screams “Act Now” by showing how one woman’s hustle can ripple across a nation Omowumi has got that unstoppable energy, part lawyer, part warrior, all heart. Her mantra? Empower a girl, empower a future. She’s proof that local heroes can spark global change.
“Peace begins when a girl gets her chance.
Omowumi Ogunrotimi is making sure she
does.“
Zuriel Oduwole: The 22-Year-Old Filmmaker Shaking Up Global Unity
At just 22, Nigerian-American Zuriel Oduwole is a documentary filmmaker with serious clout, she’s grilled 31 world leaders on education and equality. Her films, spotlighting African girls’ rights, have lit up UN screens and earned her a 2025 Nobel Peace Prize nomination. Blending storytelling with activism, she’s a voice for the next gen.
Why She’s Lit: Youth stole the show at Peace Day 2025 with ActNow pledges, and Zuriel’s the poster child for creative rebellion. Her docs spark change, proving media can be a peacebuilding tool. Zuriel Oduwole: The 22-Year-Old Filmmaker
Shaking Up Global Unity For young readers, she’s the relatable firebrand showing how to dream big and act bigger. Zuriel’s all about that Gen Z energy, bold, creative, and unapologetic. She is proving age is just a number when it comes to changing the world
Peace has a new lens. At 22, Zuriel Oduwole is
filming the future, and it looks united.
Amar Bendjama: The Un’s Quiet Maestro Of Ceasefires
Meet Algeria’s UN Permanent Representative, Amar Bendjama, the diplomat you didn’t know you needed to know. In 2025, he’s been the architect behind UN resolutions pushing Gaza ceasefires and African conflict mediation, earning Nobel Peace Prize buzz. His low key style, think whispered negotiations that shift global tensions; has de-escalated crises from Mali to the Middle East.
Why He’s Lit: Diplomats rarely get the rockstar treatment, but Amar’s work is pure Peace Day gold. His behind-the-scenes grind for nonviolent solutions bridges divides in a world screaming for ceasefires. Amar Bendjama is proof that quiet power can move mountains. In a time of rising global tensions, his quiet yet effective diplomacy has earned him whispers of a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
Smooth, sharp, and understated, Amar’s the guy who walks into a room and calms the storm without raising his voice.
Whispering peace in a screaming world; He crafts Gaza truces and African unity at the UN, earning 2025 Nobel nods.
Diplomacy is peace in action. Amar
Bendjama proves you don’t need the
spotlight to change the world; but he
deserves it.
Sudanese Emergency Response Rooms: Hope In Crisis
In Sudan’s war-torn streets, where 2025’s civil war has displaced millions, a network of young volunteers, known as the Emergency Response Rooms is rewriting the script. These aren’t caped crusaders; they’re everyday Sudanese running communal kitchens, smuggling medical supplies, and orchestrating safe evacuations. Topping PRIO’s 2025 Nobel Peace Prize shortlist, they’ve saved thousands without firing a shot.
Why They’re Lit: Forget top-down peace talks, these folks are the real deal, proving community action is the ultimate weapon against chaos. Their nonviolent resilience, feeding families while bombs drop, echoes Peace Day’s call for collective action. In a world obsessed with headlines, they’re the unsung African innovators we need to hype. These volunteers are the pulse of Sudan’s survival, turning kitchens into lifelines and proving peace is built from the ground up.
Sudan’s Emergency Response Rooms are
feeding hope and saving lives in a war zone.
Nobel-nominated for 2025, these young heroes
are Peace Day’s heartbeat proof that
community is power.
What’s Your Story For Change?
These four, Omowumi, Sudan’s volunteers, Amar, and Zuriel aren’t waiting for peace to fall from the sky. They’re building it, brick by brick, in classrooms, war zones, UN halls, and film studios. As the Nobel Peace Prize announcement looms on October 10, 2025, their stories remind us that “Act Now for a Peaceful World” is a blueprint. Let’s keep the peace fire burning.
FUN FACT
Did You Know?
The UN declared September 21 as the International Day of Peace in
- Every year, the Peace Bell is rung at UN Headquarters in New
York, it was cast from coins donated by children around the world
and bears the inscription: “Long live absolute world peace.
OMOWUNMI OGUNROTIMI
Did You Know?
Nigeria has one of the highest rates of child marriage in Africa, but advocates like Omowumi are proving that when girls stay in school, entire communities become safer and more peaceful
Zuhriel Oduwole
Did You Know?
Zuriel made her first documentary at age 12 and has since interviewed 31 world leaders, including presidents and prime
ministers, all before turning 23.
Amar Bendjama
Did You Know?
In 2025, Bendjama led Algeria’s successful push for a UN resolution calling for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza; passed with overwhelming support after weeks of stalled talks
Sudanese Emergency Response Rooms
Did You Know?
These grassroots “rooms” were organized almost entirely on WhatsApp and Telegram; showing how digital tools can save lives in war zones without a single weapon being used
