*First Nigerian to clinch the prestigious Texas’ global policing honour amongst senior police officers across Africa
*Inducted into North American Golden Law Enforcement Elite Hall of Fame Roll Call
*This represents a major international honour for Nigeria’s community in maritime security efforts, technology-driven policing and proactive law enforcement on the global stage
*Recognised for outstanding policing, marine reform, transformative technology and proactive security operations on Nigerian waterways
*“I dedicate this award to God Almighty, my hardworking team at work, my husband and the entire African community for looking out for me, my professionalism and daily determination in celebrating the best of Nigeria policing”-AIG NURAT
*BY FAVOUR BOLUWATIFE PHILIP/SOUTHWEST CORRESPONDENT/LAGOS STATE/NAIJA STANDARD NEWSPAPER Inc USA
SHE’S highly respected, revered in the global law enforcement community, especially from the ‘Lone Star’ State of Texas in the United States of America. A brilliant Nigerian police officer, an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, AIG Okunade Ronke Nurat, has boldly written her name in gold and positively rebranded the image of Nigeria in the international security community after emerging winner of the prestigious ‘North America Legendary Africa Supercop of the Year Award’.
The highly decorated police chief, who is the 24th Assistant Inspector-General of Police and currently heads the Maritime Police Command, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos, achieved the historic feat after a fierce competition involving other senior law enforcement officers drawn from different African countries.
At the end of the votes’ collation, based on empirical data analytics and analysis conducted by the NSN AWARD COMMITTEE Executive, AIG Okunade emerged victorious with unprecedented votes, making her the heroic Supercop of the Year.
The award was conferred on her in recognition of her outstanding accomplishments and contributions to policing, marine technology, modern law enforcement training and proactive security operations on Nigerian waterways.
The fierce contest brought together senior police officers from Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Ghana, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, South Africa, Rwanda and Angola.
Among the contestants were Kenya’s Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Eliud Kipkoech Lagat; Uganda’s James Ochaya; Ghana’s Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, Commissioner of Police Christian Tetteh Yohunu; Zambia’s Deputy Inspector-General of Police for Operations, Charity Munganga; Sierra Leone’s AIG Andrew Mustapha Kamara; Liberia’s Deputy Inspector-General of Police for Operations, Atty. J. Nelson Freeman; South Africa’s Deputy National Commissioner for Policing, Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili; Rwanda’s DIGP in charge of Operations, CP Vincent Sano; and Angola’s second Commander-General of the National Police, Comissário-Chefe Orlando Paulo Jorge Bernardo.
At the end of the massive votes’ tabulation from Africans at home and millions of Africans in the Diaspora, AIG Okunade emerged the winner with a vote score of 95, 255, 690.
Angola’s Comissário-Chefe Orlando Paulo Jorge Bernardo came second, while South Africa’s Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili emerged third.
The silent selection process involved media surveys and vox-pop exercises conducted among Africans in the Diaspora, with representatives of Naija Standard Newspaper Inc USA travelling from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, to major airports across Africa on three different occasions to gather the views and votes of participants.
For AIG Okunade, the historic American recognition is coming as another remarkable chapter in a policing career that commenced in 1992 when she was commissioned as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.
Born in Ogbomosho North Local Government Area of Oyo State, she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Ibadan before embarking on a career that has seen her serve in several critical formations of the Nigeria Police Force.
She has served in the Force Provost Office, divisional and area commands under the Railway Command and Airport Command, as well as specialised investigative formations.
Her career also took her to the Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos, and the Police Special Fraud Unit, Milverton, Lagos, where she became the 31st Commissioner of Police of the unit.
In another historic career milestone, AIG Okunade became the first female Commandant of the Police College, Kaduna, and subsequently the first AIG to head the institution.
The achievement further demonstrates her leadership qualities, innovative approach to policing and vast operational experience within the Nigeria Police Force.
She is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, IACP, where her professional career has been associated with integrity, discipline and commitment to the core values of the Nigeria Police Force.
By the American honour, AIG Okunade has also automatically been inducted into the prestigious Texas’ Golden Hall of Fame Media VIP, Class of 2025, for her outstanding policing, marine reform and transformative technology on the Nigerian waterways.
Her contributions in these areas have raised the bar of excellence and set high standards in effective policing, proactive law enforcement and security leadership on the African continent.
For millions of Nigerians and Africans in the Diaspora, however, the historic American recognition must not remain on the soil of the United States.
As a result of the prestigious award won by AIG Okunade and the additional Hall of Fame honour, the Texas headquarters of Naija Standard Newspaper Inc USA was inundated with demands by millions of Nigerians and Africans in the Diaspora to have this golden plaque presented in Africa, since “Charity Begins at Home,” the unique global award should be presented to the celebrated police officer on Nigerian soil.
In response to the demand, the Board of Directors of Naija Standard Newspaper Inc USA decided to travel from Dallas-Fort Worth, DFW, Texas, to Nigeria for the physical presentation of the historic honour.
The historic award presentation took place on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, by 12noon at the Maritime Police Command, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos State.
AIG Okunade, in expressing her gratitude following the recognition, thanked God Almighty for the honour and achievement, while also appreciating her husband, members of her police team and Naija Standard Newspaper Inc. USA for their support and recognition.
She acknowledged the role of those who had stood by her throughout her policing career and described the award as an honour that she received with deep appreciation.
This notable recognition of AIG Okunade represents another major international honour for Nigeria’s policing community and further places the country’s maritime security efforts, technology-driven policing and proactive law enforcement on the global stage.
The highpoint of the epoch ceremony was the iconic award presentation in the presence of other police officers working directly with her.
Indeed, with this latest feat, AIG Okunade Ronke Nurat has joined the exclusive list of Nigerian police officers whose professional accomplishments have shattered the glass ceiling beyond the shores of Africa, while demonstrating that excellence, dedication and transformative leadership in law enforcement can earn global recognition.
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