By Emeka Amaefula
MEET THE NEW CHIEF OF NAVAL STAFF-REAR ADMIRAL EMMANUEL IKECHUKWU OGALLA—N/1725
On Monday, 19th of June, 2023 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the appointment of new Service Chiefs and other officers which included the Enugu Ezike Igbo Eze North Local government Area Enugu State born appointment of Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla who was born on 20th of December, 1968. He obtained his West African School Certificate WASC from Nigeria Military School Zaria in 1987 where he came out on top as the best graduate in Sciences as he made A1 score in all subjects except in English Language. Thereafter he was admitted in the Nigerian elitist Military academy, Nigerian Défense Academy Kaduna where he is a member of Course 39RC of NDA having graduated with a Bachelors’ of Science Degree in Mathematics. Thus, he was awarded Sword of Honour as the best Naval Cadet in his Course.
He was Commissioned as Squadron Lieutenant on 16th of September 1992 as he rose to the rank of Rear Admiral with effect from 16th of September 2021 before his appointment as Chief of Naval Staff pending his exaltation to a rank befitting his new portfolio. He completed the STC NNS QUORRA, Basic Hydrography National Hydrographic School India in 2000, Junior and Senior Staff Courses AFCSC Jaji in November 2001 and July 2006. This ebullient officer was a participant of NDC Course 22 as he was awarded fdc in August 14th. Being part of the Course, he took part in the Masters of Science Degree in Strategic Studies Programme at University of Ibadan from 2014 to 2015.
Rear admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla being a senior officer served on board of many ships including NNS AMBE; ARADU; LANA; EKUN; AGU; QUORRA; BEECROFT; DELTA; and PATHFINDER. Thus, while on board NNS EKUN which led him to take part in the ECOMOG Military Operations in Liberia in 1996. Being the Base Operations Officer in NNS PATHFINDER he was assigned with the responsibility of coordinating anti-illegal bunkering operations as well as the responsibility of policing the entire Base. His achievements during his stay in that base included reduction in the illegal bunkering activities of in Nigerian Maritime area within the Base.
Being scholarly minded this senior officer served as Instructor C1 and Commandant NNHS, SO 1 Survey and DD Instruments NNHQ, ADCP, DD Hydro and DPR NHQ including as DS/DARAS NDC and D Audit NASS NHQ. Before his current appointment he was DLL NHQ. Again, in his service record during his cumulative 6-year tour of duty in NNHS, he taught Geodesy; Datum Conversion; tidal predictions; and analysis, satellite Surveying; bathymetry; among other courses of study. As a Commandant he linked the School with Teledyne Marines being a reputable OEM in the United states of America that enabled Nigerian Navy to procure several survey equipment from the company which facilitated learning and improvement in practical training.
This Chief of Naval Staff was instrumental to the review of the school’s curricula to align with IHO requirements. As he was undergoing tour of duty in the NNHQ, he was able to effect positive contributions to the localization of tidal prediction and analysis. And he participated in the FAO sponsored Guinea current Large Marine Ecosystem Survey in 2004 and this led to the provision of professional inputs during the survey and the production of NNHQ Charts. While he was on Tour of duty at the NDC he participated in the improvement of College Research package being a visible contribution that led to the 2018 participants research study tour to China and South Korea.
Being the DLL Emmanuel I. Ogalla was able to have been involved in collating and analysing previous Nigerian Navy Operations and activities with the objectives of drawing lessons that was responsible for doctrinal and operational improvements of Nigerian Navy.
So far, he has been decorated with FSS; MSS; DSS and GSS. Professionally, he is a member of the Nigerian Hydrographic Society; Nigerian Institute of Management; the International Earth Rotation Services also he is a Fellow of the Occupational safety and Health association of the United Kingdom. He got married to Mrs. Ijeoma Ogalla as they are blessed with two children.
If you think that this serious mined Naval Officer is all about his core areas of competence you need to check out his hobbies which include reading; listening; researching about Science and Nature and Jugging. His appointment as Chief of Naval Staff is coming at a time the Maritime safety of Gulf of Guinea is vital to the economies of West Africa and the international community given the attendant of insecurity in Nigeria and other neighbouring countries.
——————————Emeka Amaefula ———————–+234(0)8111813069
