Alele, an Amazon that redefines the narratives of the Nigerian army

For the girl whose hopes and aspirations seem to be muscular in a male dominated world, the elevation of Lieutenant Colonel Onyechi Apolonia Alele as the first spokesperson for the Nigerian army is a great company worthy of celebration.

It is also an inspiration for every young woman out there that with hard work and perseverance, she can go up to the apex of her career.

Lieutenant Colonel Alele sailed in complex land, not only of battlefields, but also of perception, politics and public expectations. And through all this, he carried with a grace that made it not only a representative of the army, but a totem of national rebirth.

Today it is celebrated not only because it is the first to occupy the position of the spokesman for the Nigerian army, but also because he is faithful to his call as a soldier and faithful to his country. His is an example of the infinite possibilities in which women are given space not only to serve, but to speak.

Is the answer to the recurring question: can women drive in spaces built by and for men? His ascent in the role of the army spokesman is a rapid reminder that it is not a personal promotion, but of a cultural change because for the first time, the official voice of the army includes the cadence of a woman, intelligent, composed and not agitated. In his voice, the army has found not only a spokesperson, but a new story.

Designed to greater hills in his career and in life, Ale was born in the family of the deceased officer of the mandate Cyraicus Alele and Mrs. Apolonia Anle (now deceased) and comes from the area of ​​the local government of Ehime-Mamano of the state of imo. Through the stories of service, sacrifice and adamant loyalty of his father, the young Alele absorbed the uniform codes of the uniform: honor, duty, resilience and respect.

Growing up as the daughter of an officer of the mandate meant that the meaning of the discipline included from an early age, not the hard and rigid type, but a proactive one, led by internal standards and a commitment for excellence. He first saw the daily rigors of military life: morning exercises, attention to detail, the culture of responsibility. These lessons have become the rocky substrate on which his career was built.

He had his education of the elementary school at the Army Children’s School, Rukuba Barracks, Jos Plateau State and his secondary education at the secondary school school, both in Jos. Apolonia attended the University of Jos where he obtained a diploma and a degree in artistic communication respectively. During his degree, he attended the National Youth Service Corp mandatory and subsequently the lieutenant was commissioned in the direction of the Nigerian army of the public relations of the army as a member of the regular regular course 15 of 8 December 2007.

He attended several military and civil courses during his impeccable military career. Some of the courses include the Young Officers course (Yoc), in 2010, the course of officials of the media operations in 2013, the advanced course of public relations officers in 2016 and the strategic communication course in 2025, all at the School of Public Relations and information from the Nigerian army (Naspri).

He also attended the information management course, the conflict prevention course and the integrated course for the support of peace all in the prestigious training center for international peace of Kofi Annan, Accra, Ghana between 2011 and 2013.

He also attended the joint course of information operations and the course of Peace Support Operations at the Royal AirForce Halton, in the United Kingdom in July 2015 and at the École de Maintian de la Paix, Bamako Mali, respectively.

Over the years, Lieutenant Colonel Alele has pursued further education, completing his military experience with in -depth insights on public relations, strategic communications and defense diplomacy. In 2017, he attended the training course of Trainer in Swedd, 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 Center in Accra, Ghana in 2013 Academy, Kaduna in 2024. She has distinguished Herself Not Only in Physical Prowess But Also in Intellectual Acumen—A Double Strength That Has Defined Her Career.

Since his first days, it was clear that he was not a person to follow silently behind others; He was determined to lead, to sculpt new paths in which few had dared to trample on. Her mixture of tactical and masterful communication skills distinguish it at the beginning, leading to key appointments within the army’s information and public affairs units. Yet, even as he went up on the ranks, he carried an unusual humidity with him, understanding that the leadership did not concern the titles but the service.

He has held several commands, staff and didactic appointments including the official of the military public information Nigerian Battalion (Nibatt) 5 at the Mission of the African Union of the United Nations in Darfur (Unamid), Sudan in 2008, personal officer of Grado 3 information at the headquarters of the Neda 2 Nigerian Army Ibadan from 2008 to 2012, instructor/administrator from 2013 to the 2016 training and operations of the army, headquarters of the Army Army between July 2016 and January 2018. He was also an official of public relations of the then head of the army, Nigerian army from January 2018 in May 2021, as well as the public manager for the beneficiary, as well as the person responsible for the danger for defense reports at the Administration of defense reports at the Administration of defense reports at the Administration of Defense Reports of defense reports to the Administration of Defense Reports at the Administration for the defense of Public Relations. on warranty (Nawhlg) from January 2023 to October 2023.

Until his recent appointment, he was the first official official, human rights at the Department for Military Civil Cooperation of Defense. As a leader of thought, Lieutenant with Ale is famous for having held several lessons during seminars, conferences and seminars. Some of these include: “Improve a professional reactive Nigerian army in the unloading of its constitutional roles: the gender perspective” to the body convention of women of the Nigerian army Abuja in 2022; “Gender mainstreaming in peace support operations” to participants in the 7/23 naval war course 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 career week of the Department of the Army Secretary for Officials in 2025, among others.

He is associated member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and holder of the Star Prize of the Service of the Nigerian Army Forces.

In fact, the Nigerian army imbued with tradition and often seen through a rigid and male lens, had a long time needed a new type of voice, which could articulate its evolving role in a complex national landscape. In Lieutenant Colonel Alele, they found not only a spokesperson, but a bridges manufacturer.

His appointment as the first female spokesperson of the Nigerian army is a national milestone as it presents the army not simply as a power force, but as a body rooted in the service, sacrifice and national unity. His success reminds us that the barriers in front of us are simple facades, all you need is a bold voice to shatter them for generations to come.

Today, we haunt the Lieutenant Colonel Ale, a soldier, a spokesperson, an Amazon of our time. He has not only redefined the way in which the Nigerian army communicates with his people; The aspect of leadership for the future of Nigeria is redefining.

While his voice continues to bring the stories of honor, service and sacrifice, he also brings the hopes of a nation eager to see more open doors, more shattered glass ceilings and more heroines that pride with pride beyond ranks.

For Lieutenant Colonel Alele, I offer not only a greeting, but my deepest gratitude to dare to redefine the narratives.