Nigeria’s Ibikunle Shines at UN, Wins Global Award for Prison Reforms in DRC

A Nigerian Chief Superintendent of Corrections (CSC), Olukemi Ibikunle, has brought pride to the nation after emerging the winner of the 2025 United Nations Trailblazer Award for Women Justice and Corrections Officers.

The honour, conferred by the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (UNDPO), recognises Ibikunle’s outstanding contribution to prison reform, infrastructure development, and inmate rehabilitation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Ibikunle currently serves as a corrections unit engineer with the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) — a position traditionally dominated by men. Her innovative work has redefined correctional management within the mission area, aligning prison systems with international human rights and safety standards.

According to the UNDPO, Ibikunle’s leadership has “transformed prison infrastructure and advanced rehabilitation systems, while strengthening national institutions and promoting dignity behind bars.”

Motivated by her philosophy that “peace begins behind prison walls,” Ibikunle has consistently advocated reforms that focus on safety, humane treatment, and the reformation of offenders to become productive members of society.

In her acceptance speech, Ibikunle dedicated the award to women in uniformed services across the world.

“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,” she said.

Ibikunle first served with MONUSCO between 2020 and 2022, before being redeployed to the mission in 2023.

Among her landmark achievements is the construction of an advanced security prison block in Kabare, designed to hold high-risk detainees, including members of armed groups. She also developed a model prison blueprint that now serves as a guide for prison development and standardisation across the DRC.

Another of her innovations, the biogas project at Uvira Prison, converts waste into clean energy — improving sanitation, providing sustainable power, and offering inmates hands-on training in renewable energy technology.

Her groundbreaking initiatives have been hailed by international observers as models of reform in post-conflict societies.

Ibikunle becomes the third recipient of the prestigious UN Trailblazer Award since its creation in 2022, joining a select group of women recognized for excellence in justice and corrections work.

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), in a statement, described her recognition as “a proud moment for Nigeria and a reflection of the country’s growing leadership in global peacekeeping and correctional reforms.”

With this milestone, Ibikunle joins the ranks of Nigerian officers making impactful contributions on the international stage, reaffirming the nation’s commitment to global peace, justice, and human rights.

Olayinka Babatunde