The Nigerian Army (NA) has appointed its first female spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Onyechi Appolonia Anele, who officially assumed office on Tuesday at the Army Headquarters. She takes over from Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, who bowed out after a distinguished tenure.

During the brief handing-over ceremony, Lt. Col. Anele called on the media, especially Defence correspondents, to uphold truth, fairness, and responsibility in their reportage for the good of the nation.

She assured the Nigerian Army leadership of her unwavering loyalty, commitment, and results-driven approach. “I will justify the confidence reposed in me by remaining absolutely loyal, focused, and committed,” she said.

Lt. Col. Anele commended her predecessor for his passion, resilience, and professionalism, which she said had laid a solid foundation and elevated the Directorate of Army Public Relations (DAPR) to its current enviable status.

“Your contributions to enhancing the image and strategic communication of the Nigerian Army are remarkable. Sir, you remain an integral part of the DAPR family, and I will always value your counsel and support,” she added.

She also praised the officers, soldiers, and civilian staff of the Directorate for their commitment and called for greater collaboration. She pledged to lead with transparency, professionalism, respect, and proactivity.

In his farewell remarks, Maj.-Gen. Nwachukwu, who assumed office on June 16, 2021, highlighted innovations introduced during his tenure to adapt to the rapidly evolving digital media landscape.

“Today, I dare to say with confidence that I did not merely react to these challenges—I boldly confronted them with innovation, vision, and purpose,” he stated.

He noted the retooling of the Directorate with advanced multimedia equipment, including modern cameras, editing suites, audio-visual systems, and digital communication tools, to enhance the Army’s media engagement capacity.

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Recognizing the importance of human capital, he also facilitated local and international training for officers and soldiers on global best practices in strategic communication, crisis messaging, digital warfare, and media analytics.

Among his major achievements were the establishment of the Strategic Communications Centre and the launch of Nigerian Army Info TV, the Army’s first online TV channel for audio-visual content, documentaries, and news features.

Maj.-Gen. Nwachukwu emphasized building strong relationships with traditional and new media, amplifying the stories of gallantry and professionalism of Nigerian troops on the frontlines.

“It has been a journey of transformation—of redefining Army public relations not just as a support service, but as a strategic arm in contemporary warfare and national security management,” he concluded.

He expressed gratitude to the uniformed and civilian personnel of the Directorate for their dedication, describing their support as “the wind beneath my wings,” and thanked past and present Chiefs of Army Staff, including the incumbent Lt.-Gen. Oluyede, for their trust and support.