Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) has announced a new annual ₦500,000 prize for its Faculty of Law, funded by alumna Summer Okibe, a UN Development Programme analyst and climate-justice advocate.
The award, to run for the next five years, will recognise the best graduating female law student for academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to the legal profession.
Okibe, an Energy and Development Lawyer, said the prize was intended to encourage young women to pursue leadership in law. “This is my way of saying to young women: you belong at the top of the table,” she said.
The Faculty of Law’s Dean described the initiative as a “landmark step” that would inspire female students and have a lasting impact on the legal profession.
Beyond legal education, Okibe has supported over 300 scholarships and mentorship programmes for African youth and is building a tuition-free, solar-powered school for underprivileged children in Enugu. Her work focuses on linking clean energy, gender equity, and climate justice.
The inaugural recipient of the Summer Okibe Prize will be announced at COOU’s next convocation. Okibe hopes the award becomes a lasting tradition celebrating excellence among women in law.
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