…Pledges to Uphold Values of Honour and Service

By: Kingsley Omonobi

Abuja, Nigeria — Lieutenant Colonel Onyinyechi Appolonia Anele has officially assumed office as the Acting Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), becoming the first female officer to hold the position in the history of the Nigerian Army.

She takes over from Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, who handed over the reins during a brief ceremony at the Army Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.

In her maiden remarks, Lt. Col Anele thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen Olufemi Oluyede for entrusting her with “this strategic role as the Nigerian Army spokesperson being the first female officer in the history of the Nigerian Army and indeed Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“Sir, I thank you most sincerely for finding me worthy of this appointment. I assure you and the entire leadership of the Nigerian Army that I will justify this confidence by remaining absolutely loyal, committed, focused and results-driven.

“To our friends the media, particularly our defence correspondents, you are our partners in progress. I commend your professionalism in reporting military activities and encourage you to sustain the tempo. However, let us continue to uphold truth, fairness and responsibility in our engagements for the good of our great country, Nigeria.

While paying tribute to her predecessor, Major General Nwachukwu, she acknowledged his “passion, resilience, and professionalism,” which she said contributed significantly to the transformation of the Directorate of Army Public Relations.

“To the dedicated officers, soldiers, and civilian staff of the Directorate, I thank you for your enduring commitment. I count on your continued support as we work together to further enhance the Directorate’s capacity,” she added.

A Profile in Service and Excellence

Lt. Col. Anele, who hails from Ehime-Mbano Local Government Area in Imo State, was born into a military family. She had her early education at Army Children’s School and Command Day Secondary School in Jos, Plateau State. She earned both a Diploma and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from the University of Jos.

Commissioned into the Nigerian Army on December 8, 2007, as a member of Direct Regular Course 15, she has since completed numerous military and civil courses, both locally and internationally. These include the Young Officers Course, Advanced Public Relations Officers Course, and the Strategic Communications Course at the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI).

Internationally, she trained at prestigious institutions such as the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Ghana, Royal Air Force Halton in the United Kingdom, and SwedInt in Sweden. She holds two master’s degrees—in Gender, Peace and Security from the Kofi Annan Centre, and in Leadership and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Lt. Col. Anele has served in multiple key roles, including Public Relations Officer to the former Chief of Army Staff, and as Public Information Officer for the Nigerian Battalion under the UN-AU Mission in Darfur (UNAMID). Until her current appointment, she served as Staff Officer Grade One (Human Rights) at the Defence Headquarters, Department of Civil-Military Cooperation.

Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2021, she brings to her new role a wealth of experience in strategic communication, military public relations, and peace support operations.

Her appointment has been widely acknowledged as a milestone in the Nigerian Army’s journey towards greater gender inclusiveness and professionalism in public communication.