Nigerian corrections officer, Olukemi Ibikunle, has won the 2025 United Nations Trailblazer Award for Women Justice and Corrections Officers. The announcement was made by the UN Department of Peace Operations ahead of the award ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, at the UN Headquarters in New York.
Ibikunle, serving with the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), was recognized for her exceptional leadership in prison reform and infrastructure development. As MONUSCO’s Corrections Unit Engineer, she has championed transformative projects that enhance safety, dignity, and rehabilitation within detention facilities.
Reacting to the recognition, Ibikunle said, “More than an award, this moment represents visibility and recognition of the countless women and girls whose voices are often silenced by societal expectations.”
Her notable achievements include the construction of a high-security prison block in Kabare, the design of a national prison blueprint for the DRC, and the launch of a biogas initiative in Uvira Prison that turns waste into clean energy.
Established in 2022, the Trailblazer Award honors outstanding women serving in UN peace operations and highlights their contributions to advancing justice, equality, and institutional reform.
