Nigerian legal practitioner secures $75,000 Waislitz Global Citizen Award
The Waislitz Global Citizen Awards present yearly monetary awards amounting to $250,000, acknowledging the exceptional contributions of individuals dedicated to eradicating extreme poverty.
Ms. Oluwafunke Adeoye, a distinguished Nigerian Human Rights lawyer, has been declared the recipient of the 2023 Waislitz Global Citizens Choice Award for her exceptional contributions within the realm of Criminal Justice.
The Waislitz Global Citizen Awards consist of yearly monetary grants, totaling $250,000, designed to acknowledge the remarkable achievements of individuals who strive to eliminate extreme poverty. Among these awards, the top prize is $100,000, accompanied by two additional prizes of $75,000 each, making a total of three prizes.
Adeoye, who serves as the founder and Executive Director of Hope Behind Bars Africa, an esteemed NGO, has etched her name in history as the first individual from the criminal justice sector to attain this prestigious global recognition, accompanied by a $75,000 prize.
The NGO extends complimentary legal services and direct assistance to economically disadvantaged individuals behind bars, while simultaneously advancing reforms in the realm of criminal justice through research, evidence-based advocacy, and technology. Adeoye shared that her motivation to establish this initiative in 2018 stemmed from personal experiences within the justice system.
Her inspiration was drawn from her father's ordeal, where he was wrongfully arrested and detained for a crime he did not commit several years back.
Adeoye's organization has provided vital support to over 7,000 incarcerated individuals through a diverse range of interventions, encompassing access to justice, welfare provisions, support, rehabilitation, and the transformation of former inmates.
At present, the organization is on the brink of unveiling "Justicepadi," a technological platform poised to revolutionize legal assistance across West Africa, thereby expanding its efforts on behalf of those in pursuit of justice.
The Waislitz Global Citizens Choice Awards commend exceptional achievements by individuals in their endeavors to combat extreme poverty and foster positive transformations in both their local communities and the global arena.
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