Nigeria’s Olukemi Ibikunle Wins 2025 United Nations Trailblazer Award For Women Justice And Corrections Officers

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Nigeria’s Olukemi Ibikunle has been announced as the winner of the 2025 United Nations Trailblazer Award for Women Justice and Corrections Officers, an honour that recognizes exceptional women making transformative impacts in global justice and corrections systems.

The announcement was made by the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (DPO) in New York, which confirmed that Officer Ibikunle, currently serving with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), earned the distinction for her groundbreaking work in prison reform and rehabilitation.

According to the UN, the award ceremony will take place on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and the prize will be presented by the UN Deputy Secretary-General.

Serving as MONUSCO’s Corrections Unit Engineer, Officer Ibikunle has distinguished herself in a traditionally male-dominated field, leading transformative infrastructure and rehabilitation projects that align with international human rights standards and bolster national institutions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Driven by her belief that “peace begins behind prison walls,” Ibikunle has championed prison strategies focused on safety, dignity, and rehabilitation. Her initiatives have reshaped correctional approaches within the DRC and inspired broader regional reform.

Reflecting on her recognition, Ibikunle said:

“More than an award, this moment represents visibility and recognition of the countless women and girls whose voices are often silenced and whose dreams are constrained by societal expectations.”

Her notable accomplishments include the construction of an advanced security prison block in Kabare for high-risk detainees, including members of armed groups, and the development of a model prison blueprint now serving as a national guide for standardizing prison design and improving detention conditions.

She also spearheaded the Biogas Initiative at Uvira Prison, which converts waste into clean energy, an innovation that has improved living conditions, promoted environmental sustainability, and provided detainees with valuable vocational training opportunities.

Ibikunle first served with MONUSCO between 2020 and 2022 before being redeployed in 2023. Her technical expertise and commitment to reform have earned her praise from both colleagues and the United Nations leadership.

Established in 2022 by the Justice and Corrections Service of the Office for the Rule of Law and Security Institutions, the Trailblazer Award celebrates women justice and corrections officers deployed to UN peace operations. It aims to highlight their contributions, challenge gender stereotypes, and inspire more women to pursue leadership roles in peace and security.

Olukemi Ibikunle’s achievement not only brings pride to Nigeria but also underscores the critical role of women in shaping global peace, justice, and correctional transformation.