Dr. Victoria Omonigho Ekhomu has been announced as the 2023 award recipient for the Bill Zalud Memorial Award for Professional Excellence by the International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO) and Security magazine.

In 2017, the International Foundation for Protection Officers, in conjunction with Security magazine, announced the inaugural Bill Zalud Memorial Award for Professional Excellence, an award that recognizes one security professional or an organization for professional excellence or outstanding service in the security profession. 

This year’s recipient, Ekhomu is the Group Managing Director/CEO of TRANSWORLD SECURITY, a foremost asset protection company. Ekhomu is also the President of the School of Management & Security, a security certification and training school in Nigeria. Ekhomu is also the President of the Association of Security & Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON). 

Ekhomu is a member of the ASIS Foundation Board of Trustees. She was ASIS International’s African Advisory Council Chairman. Ekhomu earlier served as a Senior Regional Vice President for West, Central & Northern Africa for ASIS International from 2010 to 2015. She was a Regional Vice President for West, Central Africa, from 2008 to 2010. She also was the Chapter Chairman for ASIS, after having served as Program Chairman and Secretary. Ekhomu is the first Nigerian to be appointed to the Awards Committee of ASIS International. She was Board Certified by the ASIS Certification Board as a Certified Protection Professional (CPP) in 2005, making her the first woman to earn the CPP Certification in Africa. Ekhomu earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from ASIS 206 Lagos & ASIS Region 11. 

Ekhomu earned the Women in Security Global Community Karen Marquez Honors Award in (2015), which recognizes a female security professional who has consistently worked for the betterment of the security industry over an extended period of time. Ekhomu was honored with the Certificate of Appointment as Ambassador for World Peace (AMB), by the United Nations on October 9, 2020. She is the Nigerian Representative of International Foundation for Protection Officers (IFPO). As a Certified Protection Officer (CPO) Instructor, she has earned the CPOI Certification from IFPO. Ekhomu is a Trustee of Association of Industrial Security & Safety Operators of Nigeria (AISSON).

Ekhomu was conferred with the Honorary Doctor of Science Honoris Causa (D.Sc.) in Industrial Security, Risk Management & Corporate Governance by European-American University. Ekhomu has a Fellowship Award from Institute of Security, Nigeria (FISN). She is a fellow of Nigerian Institute of Industrial Security (NIIS). She holds a fellowship from Institute of Criminal Justice and Criminology Administration. In addition, Ekhomu was honored by Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and the Regulator of Nigerian Private Security, in collaboration with Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria (ALSPN), with the Award of Excellence.

"The 2023 Bill Zalud Award Committee had their work cut out for them in terms of the selection of the recipient of this globally recognized award," Sandi Davies, Chief Executive Officer of the International Foundation for Protection Officers said. "Nominations were received from over six countries. Having known Bill Zalud for many years, I recall his passion for improving the perception of security officers and his vision in creating an educational pathway which would enhance career enhancement. Victoria Ekhomu certainly shares this vision and has committed her career to exactly this. Evident by her own professional development she makes available a multitude of educational and career enhancement opportunities for our first responders. We applaud and appreciate her efforts."