The Country Director of ASF France (Avocats Sans Frontières France) in Nigeria, Angela Uwandu Uzoma-Iwuchukwu, has been honoured with the Robert Badinter Grand Prix Finalist Award at the conclusion of the ninth World Congress Against the Death Penalty, held in Paris this week.

The Robert Badinter Grand Prix is one of the most prestigious international honours in the global movement to abolish the death penalty.

It recognises individuals who have demonstrated exceptional courage, leadership and impact in the campaign against capital punishment.

Ms Uzoma-Iwuchukwu received the official Finalist Award Certificate during the closing ceremony of the congress, while the Grand Prix itself was presented to another laureate.

The jury recognised her courageous and inspiring efforts to advance the abolition of the death penalty in Nigeria.

Through strategic litigation, advocacy with lawmakers, capacity building for judicial officers and other justice sector actors, prison monitoring, and the provision of legal aid to death row inmates, she has played a pivotal role in saving lives and driving legislative and policy reforms.

Her recognition comes at a critical moment for human rights in Nigeria. As of December 2025, the country had the largest death row population in Sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 3,742 people under sentence of death, including over 82 women. Despite this, Nigeria has not executed any inmate for nearly a decade.

By December 2026, Nigeria will mark 10 consecutive years without an execution. This sustained moratorium, achieved in part through persistent civil society advocacy led by Ms Uzoma-Iwuchukwu and partner organisations, positions Nigeria for recognition as a de facto abolitionist country in international human rights rankings.