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

DAILY POST reports that Anele, who is a member of Direct Regular Course 15 and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, takes over from Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, who has been posted to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre. Her appointment takes effect from April 22, 2025.

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

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