Abuja: The Nigerian Army has appointed Lt.-Col. Appolonia Anele as its first female Director of Army Public Relations in an acting capacity. This appointment marks a historic moment as it is the first time a female officer has been chosen for this position in the history of the Nigerian Army.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Anele will assume her new role on April 22, taking over from the outgoing spokesman, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, who has been posted to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre. Anele is a member of Direct Regular Course 15 and also belongs to the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
Anele previously served as a Public Relations Officer in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff during the tenure of retired Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai. Her other experience includes serving as the Public Relations Officer at the Defence Space Administration and recently in the Department of Civil-Military Relations at the Defence Headquarters.
Her appointment is seen as a significant milestone for the Nigerian Army, highlighting the institution’s commitment to being a gender-responsive force.
