Nigerian corrections officer Olukemi Ibikunle has been named the winner of the 2025 United Nations Trailblazer Award for Women Justice and Corrections Officers, an international honour recognizing exceptional contributions by women serving in UN peace operations.
The announcement was made by the United Nations Department of Peace Operations on Wednesday, 8 October 2025. The award ceremony, held at the UN Headquarters in New York, was presided over by the UN Deputy Secretary-General and featured remarks from Ms. Margaret Satterthwaite, UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers; Ms. Amy Jarrette, Deputy Commissioner for Women of Correctional Service Canada; and representatives from various Member States.
Ibikunle, currently serving with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), was honoured for her pioneering work as a Corrections Unit Engineer—a role traditionally dominated by men. Her efforts have led to transformative reforms in prison infrastructure, safety, and rehabilitation in the DRC. “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 upon receiving the honour.
Her key achievements include the construction of a high-security prison block in Kabare for high-risk detainees, including members of armed groups, and the development of a model prison blueprint to standardize facilities and improve detention conditions nationwide. She also led the Biogas Initiative at Uvira Prison, which converts waste into clean energy—improving sanitation, promoting environmental sustainability, and offering detainees vocational training.
Having first served with MONUSCO between 2020 and 2022 before redeploying in 2023, Ibikunle’s leadership and innovation have earned her recognition as a symbol of resilience and inclusion in peace operations.
The Trailblazer Award, established in 2022 by the Justice and Corrections Service (JCS) of the UN Office for the Rule of Law and Security Institutions, celebrates women who break gender barriers and advance justice and correctional reforms within UN peace missions.
According to the UN Department of Peace Operations, the initiative supports the goals of the Uniformed Gender Parity Strategy (UGPS) by promoting women’s full, equal, and meaningful participation in peacekeeping and peacebuilding.
The 2025 award ceremony was broadcast live on UN Web TV, reaffirming the global commitment to gender inclusion as an essential pillar of sustainable peace.
