Nigeria has recorded another milestone on the global stage as Olukemi Ibikunle, a Corrections Unit Engineer serving with the United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), has been awarded the 2025 United Nations Trailblazer Award for Women Justice and Corrections Officers.
The award, presented at the UN Headquarters in New York, recognises women in justice and corrections who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact within UN peace operations.
Rising Through the Ranks in a Male-Dominated Field
Ibikunle, who hails from Nigeria, has distinguished herself in a sector traditionally dominated by men. As Unit Engineer with MONUSCO, she has overseen major infrastructural rehabilitation and prison management improvements in conflict-affected zones of the DRC.
Her work includes redesigning prison systems to ensure safety, rehabilitation, and human dignity, as well as training local corrections officers to adopt international best practices.
Speaking after receiving the award, she said:
“It is a great honor to receive this award, and it is more than an award; it is proof that women can have dreams and achieve them.”
UN Commends Nigeria’s Contribution to Peacekeeping
The UN Department of Peace Operations, which launched the Trailblazer Award in 2022, noted that Ibikunle’s contribution reflects the growing impact of women officers in peacekeeping roles. The UN Justice and Corrections Service also confirmed that female representation in peace operations has now surpassed gender parity targets, following deliberate inclusion strategies.
UN officials praised her determination and described her as a “symbol of resilience and innovation in one of the world’s most challenging peacekeeping environments.”
A Proud Moment for Nigeria
Nigeria remains one of Africa’s major contributors to UN peace missions, and Ibikunle’s award reinforces the country’s reputation for producing exceptional officers deployed to global conflict zones.
Her recognition has sparked celebration among Nigerians and advocates of women’s leadership, who say her achievement sends a powerful message to young women — that competence, not gender, defines leadership