By JKNewsMedia.com
NIGERIA’s MARITIME policing efforts have earned international recognition after 95,255,690 votes secured the North America Legendary Africa Supercop of the Year Award (NALASYA) for Assistant Inspector-General of Policc, Okunade Ronke Nurat, in a continental contest involving senior law enforcement officers from 10 African countries.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that AIG Okunade, who heads the Maritime Police Command at the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) headquarters Annex in Lagos, was recognised for her outstanding policing, marine reform, transformative technology and proactive security operations on Nigerian waterways.
The award placed Okunade as the first Nigerian to clinch the prestigious Texas global policing honour among senior police officers across Africa.
She was also inducted into the North American Golden Law Enforcement Elite Hall of Fame Roll Call.
The contest also featured 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; and Sierra Leone’s AIG Andrew Mustapha Kamara.
Others included 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 conclusion of the vote tabulation, Okunade recorded 95,255,690 votes to emerge ahead of Angola’s Comissário-Chefe Orlando Paulo Jorge Bernardo, who placed second, while South Africa’s Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili finished third.
A statement notes that the selection process involved media surveys and vox-pop exercises among Africans in the Diaspora.
Representatives of Naija Standard Newspaper Inc USA travelled from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, to major airports across Africa on three occasions to gather the views and votes of participants.
Subsequently, the award was conferred on Okunade in recognition of her contributions to policing, marine technology, modern law enforcement training and proactive security operations on Nigerian waterways.
Okunade’s Policing Career
Her latest recognition adds another milestone to a policing career that began in 1992, when she was commissioned as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police.
Born in Ogbomosho North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Okunade obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Ibadan before serving in several formations of the Nigeria Police Force.
She served in the Force Provost Office, divisional and area commands under the Railway Command and Airport Command, as well as specialised investigative formations.
Okunade later became the first female Commandant of the Police College, Kaduna, and subsequently the first AIG to head the institution.
She also served at 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.
She is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), and her professional career has been associated with integrity, discipline and commitment to the core values of the Nigeria Police Force.
Her latest American honour also resulted in Okunade’s automatic induction into the Texas’ Golden Hall of Fame Media VIP, Class of 2025, for her outstanding policing, marine reform and transformative technology on Nigerian waterways.
Following the award, 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 presentation took place at 12,00noon on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, at the Maritime Police Command, Nigeria Police Force Headquarters Annex, Lagos State.
Similarly, the ceremony’s highpoint was the presentation of the iconic award in the presence of other police officers working directly with Okunade.
Expressing gratitude for the recognition, Okunade thanked God Almighty for the honour and achievement and appreciated her husband, members of her police team and Naija Standard Newspaper Inc USA for their support and recognition.
She also acknowledged those who had stood by her throughout her policing career and described the award as an honour she received with deep appreciation.
“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 Okunade said.
Meanwhile, the recognition represents an international honour for Nigeria’s policing community in maritime security efforts, technology-driven policing and proactive law enforcement, while highlighting Okunade’s accomplishments in policing and security operations on Nigerian waterways.
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