The President of the Republic of Liberia, Dr George Manneh Weah has conferred the award of “Distinguished Service Order of the Republic of Liberia” on some senior officers of the Nigerian Army(NA) in recognition of their outstanding contribution to the growth and development of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
Other officers who also benefited from the award are from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and the USA.
The Nigerian officers who benefited from the awards include Colonels Aminu Usman Gumel, Gbenga Sunday Oyinwola, Emmanuel Chukwu, Ismaila Sule and Lieutenant Colonel Abdulkadir Abubakar.
President Weah made the presentation during the 65th Armed Forces of Liberia Day Celebration held on Friday, 11 February 2022 at the Barclay Training Centre, Camp Johnson Road, Monrovia, Liberia.
According to a statement on the event by Nigerian Army Spokesperson, Brigadier General Onyema Chukwu, “while presenting the award, President Weah stated that at every celebration of the Armed Forces of Liberia Day, the government recognizes and awards the” Distinguished Service Order” to individuals whose outstanding contribution have significantly impacted on the growth and development of the Armed Forces of Liberia, the nation and humanity.
“The President stated that “As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia, it is pleasing to duly recognize and congratulate this year’s Distinguished Service Order Award recipients. “The award is in recognition of their Service to Liberia, which has brought honour upon these gentlemen officers” he added.
“The awardees also got a letter of commendation from the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia, Ambassador Godfrey Anichebe Odudigbo for making Nigeria proud.
“Receiving the awards and letters of commendation on behalf of the recipients, Colonel Gbenga Sunday Oyinwola expressed gratitude to the President, Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Faruk Yahaya for the opportunity to have served Nigeria in their various capacities.
“He stated further that the award will motivate the recipients to be more productive in their service to the NA and the Nigerian nation.”
The award was conferred on the senior officers, who were seconded to the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) at different times, as part of ECOWAS Advisory Training Team. They contributed immensely to the building and restructuring of the new AFL.