Nigerian corrections officer Olukemi Ibikunle wins UN award for reform initiatives in DRC prisons

Olukemi Ibikunle, a Nigerian chief superintendent of corrections (CSC), has been named the winner of the 2025 United Nations Trailblazer Award for Women Justice and Corrections Officers.

The United Nations Department of Peace Operations (UNDPO) said Ibikunle was recognised for her groundbreaking contributions to prison reform and rehabilitation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Ibikunle is serving with the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) as a corrections unit engineer — a role traditionally dominated by men.

According to UNDPO, her work has transformed prison infrastructure and advanced rehabilitation systems to align with international standards while strengthening national institutions.

Believing that “peace begins behind prison walls”, Ibikunle focused her efforts on reshaping correctional strategies to promote safety, dignity, and rehabilitation for detainees.

“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,” Ibikunle said in her acceptance remarks.

She first served with MONUSCO between 2020 and 2022 before redeploying to the mission in 2023.

Among her notable achievements is the construction of an advanced security prison block in Kabare for high-risk detainees, including members of armed groups.

Ibikunle also developed a model prison blueprint for the DRC, which now guides efforts to standardise prison design and improve detention conditions across the country.

Another of her innovations, the biogas initiative at the Uvira Prison, converts waste into clean energy, enhancing living conditions, promoting environmental sustainability, and providing detainees with vocational training in renewable energy.

Ibikunle becomes the third recipient of the award since its establishment in 2022.