UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria's Olukemi Ibikunle, who serves as the corrections unit engineer of the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), was awarded the third UN Trailblazer Award for Women Justice and Corrections Officers on Wednesday.

"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," said Ibikunle during a ceremony at the UN headquarters in New York.

Ibikunle's work within MONUSCO has focused on improving prison management, providing training and advice to local officials, and strengthening rehabilitation activities for prisoners in challenging environments.

Within MONUSCO's corrections unit, Ibikunle applies her technical expertise in a field traditionally dominated by men and leads high-impact projects that strengthen the country's prison infrastructure and promote respect for human rights, according to MONUSCO.

Established in 2022 by the UN Department of Peace Operations, the UN Trailblazer Award for Women Justice and Corrections Officers recognizes the outstanding contributions of women in justice and corrections roles within UN peace operations. ■