In a historic development, the Nigerian Army has appointed Lieutenant Colonel Anele Onyinyechi Appolonia as the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, making her the first woman to ever hold the position.
Her appointment, which takes effect from April 22, 2025, follows the redeployment of her predecessor, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, who has been posted to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre.
Lt. Col. Anele is a distinguished officer from the Direct Regular Course 15 and a registered member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR. Prior to her new role, she served in the Department of Civil-Military Relations following her completion of a six-month strategic course at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja.
Over the years, she has built a solid reputation within military circles, particularly during her time as Public Relations Officer in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff. She notably served in this capacity under the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd), handling critical media engagements and high-level communication strategies.
Now at the helm of the Army’s Public Relations Directorate, Lt. Col. Anele is tasked with overseeing all official communications, shaping public perception, and managing media relations for the Nigerian Army. Her appointment is being widely seen as a significant step toward gender inclusion and representation in military leadership.
Comments