Nigerian Officer Wins UN Award for Transforming Prisons in Congo
Olukemi Ibikunle, a 43-year-old Nigerian officer, has been recognized for her innovative approaches to transforming prisons.
In her home country, Ibikunle faced bureaucratic challenges, but she persevered, introducing new ideas to improve the lives of inmates. Her initiatives included literally breaking down walls to create service gates for deliveries and waste evacuation.
“Why are you bringing all these foreign things here? Things that have never been done before,”
her civil service boss once asked, skeptical of her proposals. Undeterred, Ibikunle led the installation of a biogas system, a renewable-energy source, in the Kirikiri Maximum Security Custodial Center in Lagos.
Author's summary: Nigerian officer Olukemi Ibikunle wins UN award.