Nigerian Army Appoints First Female PRO

Published April 17, 2025

The Nigerian Army has appointed Lieutenant Colonel Anele Onyinyechi Appolonia as the acting director of Army Public Relations. She is the first woman to hold this position in the history of the Nigerian Army.

Reports indicate that Lieutenant Colonel Anele, a member of Direct Regular Course 15 and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), succeeds Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, who has been assigned to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre. Her appointment will take effect on April 22, 2025.

Prior to her promotion, Lieutenant Colonel Anele completed a six-month strategic course at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre and was subsequently assigned to the Department of Civil-Military Relations.

The new army spokesperson has previously served as the Public Relations Officer in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff. Until her recent appointment, Lieutenant Colonel Anele was with the Department of Civil-Military Relations.