In light of President Bola Tinubu’s removal of the Service Chiefs on Monday, Rear Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla has been appointed as the new Chief of Naval Staff, replacing Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo, who President Muhammadu Buhari appointed in January 2021.
Profile of Rear Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla:
Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, born on December 20, 1968, in Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State, has an impressive educational background. He obtained the West African School Certificate from NMS Zaria in June 1987, where he graduated as the top-performing science student.
As a member of the 39 RC NDA, he graduated with a BSc in Mathematics and was awarded the Sword of Honour as the best naval cadet in his course.
His naval career has seen him rise through the ranks, from being commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant on September 16, 1992, to achieving the rank of Rear Admiral on September 16, 2021.
He has completed various specialized courses and training programs, including the STC NNS QUORRA, Basic Hydrography National Hydrographic School India, Junior and Senior Staff Courses AFCSC Jaji, and the NDC Course 22, where he obtained his MSc in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan.
Throughout his service, Rear Admiral Ogalla has served on several ships, including NNS AMBE, ARADU, LANA, EKUN, AGU, QUORRA, BEECROFT, DELTA, and PATHFINDER. Notable accomplishments include participating in the ECOMOG Operations in Liberia in 1996 while serving on board NNS EKUN and his commendable coordination of anti-illegal bunkering operations and policing duties as the Base Operations Officer in NNS PATHFINDER.
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He has held various instructional, command, and staff positions, contributing significantly to developing and improving naval operations. Notably, as an instructor at NNHS, he taught subjects such as geodesy, datum conversion, tidal predictions, and analysis.
As the Commandant of NNHS, he established valuable partnerships with Teledyn Marines, leading to the procurement of survey equipment and practical training advancements. In his role at NNHO, he localized tidal prediction and analysis and contributed to the FAO-sponsored Guinea Current Large Marine Ecosystem survey.
During his time at the NDC, Rear Admiral Ogalla played a crucial role in enhancing the College’s research package and led a research study tour to China and South Korea. As the Director of Lessons Learned at NHQ, he analyzed previous naval operations and activities, extracting lessons to enhance doctrines and operations.
Rear Admiral Ogalla has been recognized with numerous decorations, including FSS, MSS, DSS, and GSS. He is a member of various professional associations, including the Nigerian Hydrographic Society, the Nigerian Institute of Management, and the International Earth Rotation Services. He is also a fellow of the UK Occupational Safety and Health Association.
Outside of his military career, Rear Admiral Ogalla is happily married to Mrs. Ijeoma Ogalla, and they have been blessed with two children. In his leisure time, he enjoys activities such as jogging, reading, and researching science and nature.
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