Olufemi Oluyede, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, has been awarded the Grand Commander of the Order of the Rokel, Sierra Leone’s highest national honour, by Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone. The ceremony took place during the parade marking the 17th Armed Forces Day of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces.

The honour recognises Oluyede’s contributions to peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone under the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), as well as the broader role of Nigerian troops in restoring stability in the country.

According to the citation, Oluyede served in ECOMOG operations in Sierra Leone between 1992 and 1994, including deployment as a Platoon Commander at the residence of the then Head of State. He was commended for his leadership, discipline, and professionalism throughout the conflict period.

Other recipients of the award included former Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff Martin Luther Agwai, Daniel Opande (rtd) of Kenya, Ibrahima Sory Bangoura of Guinea, Paul Rogers of the United States, and Edward Butler (rtd) of the United Kingdom.

Tributes were paid to the Nigerian Armed Forces for their significant role during Sierra Leone’s civil war, with officials highlighting the contributions of ECOMOG forces to regional peace, civilian protection, and post-conflict stability.