The Nigerian Army has made a historic move with the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel Onyinyechi Anele as the acting director of army public relations, making her the first woman to hold the position.

Markus Kangye, the director of defence media operations, confirmed the appointment, which will take effect on April 22. Anele will succeed Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, who has held the position for over three years.

Anele’s appointment is a significant milestone in her career, following a series of key roles in military communications. Prior to this position, she worked in the department of civil-military relations and served as the public relations officer in the office of the chief of army staff. She is also a member of the Direct Regular Course 15 and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

Her experience in public relations and military communications is expected to bring a fresh dynamic to the army’s media operations.

Major General Nwachukwu, who served as the army spokesperson since June 2021, will be stepping down after a notable tenure in advancing the army’s public communication efforts.

Anele’s historic appointment is a testament to the increasing representation of women in senior military and leadership roles in Nigeria.