First Female Army Public Relations Officer Assumes Office
The new Acting Director Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Apolonia Anele has assumed office following an official handing and taking over ceremony at the Army Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday 22nd April 2025.
Anele who is taking over from her erudite predecessor Major General Onyema Nwachukwu is the first female spokesperson to take the mantle of leadership at the Department of Army Public Relations (DAPR).
In her maiden speech at the ceremony, Lieutenant Colonel Anele assured the Nigerian Army and the entire leadership that she will justify the confidence on her by remaining absolutely loyal, committed, focused and results-driven.
She pledges to lead the Directorate with transparency, professionalism, respect, and proactiveness as she take on the new role and responsibility.
“I stand before you today with a deep sense of honour, humility and gratitude to Almighty God as I assume office as the Acting Director of Army Public Relations, Nigerian Army. It is a moment I do not take lightly, not only because of the enormous responsibilities that come with this office, but also because of the expectations and most importantly, the historic significance of my appointment.
Firstly, to be entrusted 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” She said.
She appreciated the Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede for the opportunity and his visionary leadership and paid glowing tribute to her predecessor, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu.
According to the new Acting Director of Army Public Relations, his passion, resilience, and professionalism laid a formidable foundation and transformed the Directorate of Army Public Relations to the enviable state that it is now.
“Your contributions to enhancing the image and strategic communication of the Nigerian Army are remarkable over the years you served as Director. Sir, you remain an integral part of the DAPR family, and I will always value your counsel and support”
She equally commended the media particularly Defence Correspondents for their corporations, professionalism in reporting military activities while encouraging them to sustain the tempo as they uphold truth, fairness and responsibility in all engagements for the good of the country.
The outgone Director, Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu charged the new Acting Director to take the Directorate to even greater heights while expressing confidence in her that she will carry the torch with purpose, passion, and integrity.
He appreciated all the former Chiefs of Army Staff, and the present Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede for their trust, guidance, and unflinching support while praising their vision for a professionally responsive Nigerian Army.
Highlighting his achievements while at the helm of affairs at the Directorate, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu said
“One of the major milestones was the retooling of the Directorate with cutting-edge multimedia equipment, positioning us to respond swiftly and professionally to both operational and non-operational media engagements. I ensured the acquisition of modern cameras, editing suites, audio-visual systems and digital communication tools necessary to thrive in the fast-paced global media space”
“I facilitated specialised local and international training for our officers and soldiers, exposing them to global best practices in strategic communication, crisis messaging, digital warfare, and media analytics. The establishment of a fully functional Strategic Communications Centre stands today as a testament to our resolve to institutionalize deliberate and well-coordinated messaging. This centre has become the nerve hub for synchronized communication efforts across our formations and units”
“The directorate under my watch berthed the first ever Nigerian Army Online TV named “Nigerian Army Info Tv” by establishing a state-of-the-art Studio at the Army Headquarters, purpose-built for the production of audio-visual contents, documentaries, news features and broadcast.
This, I must assert, have significantly enhanced the media reach, engagement, and public perception of the Nigerian Army. Through this platform, the voice of the Nigerian Army now resonates louder and clearer, both within and beyond our borders” he stated.
He therefore appreciated members of the fourth estate of the realm who over the years have supported the Nigerian Army relentlessly in its effort at eradicating security challenges in troubled parts of our country, urging them to continue the vital societal role, bearing in mind the defence of the country and the protection of the citizens are paramount.
Her full profile
Lieutenant Colonel (Mrs) Onyechi Appolonia Anele FSS anipr, the newly appointed Acting Director of the Directorate of Army Public Relations (Ag DAPR), is a seasoned, versatile and highly accomplished public relations, crisis and strategic communication expert with a steadfast commitment to excellence, discipline and service.
She is widely recognised for her exceptional leadership acumen, deep professional insight and strategic foresight in advancing military public communication. A firm believer in hard work and dedication, she brings to her new role a wealth of experience cultivated through years of impactful service in diverse command, instructional and public engagement capacities within the Nigerian Army and international peacekeeping missions.
Destined for greater heights in career and life, she was born to the family of late Warrant Officer Cyraicus Anele and Mrs Appolonia Anele (now late) and hails from Ehime-Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State.
She had her primary school education at Army Children’s School, Rukuba Barracks and her secondary education at Command Day Secondary School, both in Jos, Plateau State. Appolonia attended the University of Jos where she obtained a Diploma and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communication respectively.
Upon her graduation, she attended the mandatory National Youth Service Corp and thereafter was commissioned Lieutenant into the Nigerian Army Directorate of Army Public Relations as a member of Direct Regular Course 15 on 8 December 2007.
She has attended several military and civil courses in the course of her impeccable military career. Some of the courses include the Young Officers Course (YOC), in 2010, the Media Operations Officers Course in 2013, the Advanced Public Relations Officers Course in 2016 and the Strategic Communications Course in 2025, all at the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI).
She also attended the Crisis Information Management Course, Conflict Prevention Course and Integrated Peace Support Operations Course all at the prestigious Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Accra, Ghana between 2011 and 2013.
She further attended the Joint Information Operations Course and the Gender in Peace Support Operations Course at the Royal Airforce Halton, United Kingdom in July 2015 and at the École de Maintien de la Paix, Bamako Mali in June 2015, respectively.
In 2017, she attended the Gender Training of Trainers Course at SwedInt, Sweden. In her quest to acquire more knowledge, she obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Gender Peace and Security, from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra, Ghana in 2013. She also holds a Master of Arts Degree in Leadership and Strategic Studies from the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna in 2024.
A well-experienced senior officer, the new Acting Director has held several command, staff and instructional appointments which include Military Public Information Officer Nigerian Battalion (NIBATT) 5 at the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), Sudan in 2008, Staff Officer Grade 3 Information/Publication at the Headquarters 2 Division Nigerian Army Ibadan from 2008 to 2012, Instructor/Administrative Officer and Chief Instructor at the Nigerian Army School of Public Relations and Information (NASPRI), Lagos from 2013 to 2016 and the Gender Officer at the Department of Army Training and Operations, Army Headquarters Abuja between July 2016 and January 2018.
She was the Public Relations Officer to then Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army from January 2018 to May 2021, as well as the Public Relations Officer at the Defence Space Administration between May 2021 and January 2022. Additionally, she was the Acting Executive Director of Corporate Affairs at the Nigerian Army Welfare Holdings Limited by Guarantee (NAWHLG) from January 2023 to October 2023. Until her recent appointment, she was the Staff Officer Grade One, Human Rights at the Defence Headquarters Department of Civil Military Cooperation.
She was the Public Relations Officer to the then Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Army, from January 2018 to May 2021, as well as the Public Relations Officer at the Defence Space Administration between May 2021 and January 2022. Additionally, she was the Acting Executive Director of Corporate Affairs at the Nigerian Army Welfare Holdings Limited by Guarantee (NAWHLG) from January 2023 to October 2023.
Until her recent appointment, she was the Staff Officer Grade One, Human Rights, at the Defence Headquarters Department of Civil Military Cooperation. Lieutenant Colonel Appolonia Anele was promoted to the ranks of Captain, Major, and Lieutenant Colonel in the Nigerian Army in 2012, 2016, and 2021 respectively.
A sound intellectual with instructional abilities, she has delivered several lectures during seminars, conferences, and workshops. Some of these include: “Enhancing a Professionally Responsive Nigerian Army in the Discharge of its Constitutional Roles: The Gender Perspective” at the Nigerian Army Women Corps Convention Abuja in 2022; “Gender Mainstreaming in Peace Support Operations” to participants of Naval Warfare Course 7/23 at the Naval War College of Nigeria, Calabar in 2023; and “Gender Inclusion and Career Planning in the Nigerian Army: Female Officers in Perspective” during the Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary Career Week for Officers in 2025, among others.
Lieutenant Colonel OA Anele is an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and a holder of the Forces Service Star Award of the Nigerian Army. Her hobbies include reading, taking long walks, and listening to music. She is happily married.
