Nigeria’s Country Director of Avocats Sans Frontières France, ASF France, Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, has been recognised with the Robert Badinter Grand Prix Finalist Award at the 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty in Paris, France.
The Robert Badinter Grand Prix is regarded as one of the highest international honours in the global movement for the abolition of capital punishment, recognising individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, courage and impact in the campaign against the death penalty.
Uzoma-Iwuchukwu received the Finalist Award Certificate during the closing ceremony of the congress, while the overall Grand Prix was presented to another recipient.
The organisers said she was recognised for her contributions to advancing the abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria through strategic litigation, legislative advocacy, judicial capacity building, prison monitoring and the provision of legal assistance to inmates on death row.
According to the organisers, her work has contributed significantly to protecting the rights of condemned prisoners while promoting legislative and policy reforms aimed at reducing the use of capital punishment.
The recognition comes as Nigeria approaches a decade without carrying out an execution.
According to data cited at the congress, Nigeria had more than 3,742 inmates on death row as of December 2025, including over 82 women, making it the country with the largest death row population in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Despite the high number of death row inmates, no executions have been carried out in the country for nearly 10 years.
If the trend continues through December 2026, Nigeria will attain 10 consecutive years without an execution, a development that could strengthen its classification as a de facto abolitionist country under international human rights standards.
Speaking after receiving the recognition, Uzoma-Iwuchukwu described the milestone as an opportunity to advance reforms in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.
“Nigeria reaching 10 years without executions is a milestone we must protect. This award shows that courageous advocacy can change a country’s direction. I accept it on behalf of all Nigerians working for a justice system that respects the right to life,” she said.
She called for the adoption of a formal legal moratorium on executions, a reduction in the scope of offences punishable by death and the building of national consensus towards the eventual abolition of capital punishment.
She also expressed appreciation to her colleagues and partners for their support in advancing the campaign.
ASF France commended Uzoma-Iwuchukwu’s leadership and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting efforts to improve access to justice, strengthen fair trial rights and promote the abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria.
The organisation has been working in Nigeria to provide free legal assistance, support judicial reforms, combat torture and ill-treatment, and promote press freedom, digital rights and compliance with international human rights standards.
The 9th World Congress Against the Death Penalty brought together human rights advocates, legal experts and policymakers from more than 100 countries to review global progress in the campaign to abolish capital punishment and strengthen international commitments to ending the practice.
