Army promotes first female officer trained in UK military academy

The Nigerian Army has promoted Princess Oluchukwu Owowoh, the first-ever Nigerian female officer to graduate from the United Kingdom’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).

Owowoh was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

In April, Owowoh was among the 135 officer cadets to graduate during RMAS’ sovereign’s parade in London.

The 24-year-old joined the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in Kaduna in 2018.

She was appointed cadet lance corporal in her second year.

She rose to the rank of cadet sergeant in her fourth year and was appointed company senior under officer Charlie (CSUOC) in her fifth year.

Owowoh held the appointment with two other female colleagues and made history as the first female to assume the position of CSUOC in the academy.

In her fourth year, she completed the academic wing of the commissioning course and achieved first-class honours in biological sciences.

In a statement published on the X handle of the NDA on Friday, the academy said Owowoh was decorated at an NDA officer’s mess and golf club by JO Chai, commandant of the academy.

“The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General TA Lagbaja has authorised the promotion of Second Lieutenant Princess Oluchukwu Owowo to the substantive rank of Lieutenant (Lt) in the Nigerian Army,” the statement reads.

The decoration ceremony was attended by senior military officers, academic and non-academic staff.

The Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General TA Lagbaja has authorised the promotion of Second Lieutenant Princess Oluchukwu Owowo to the substantive rank of Lieutenant (Lt) in the Nigerian Army.

Speaking during the decoration ceremony which took place today 26 June ,2024 at the… pic.twitter.com/FX5snLvmL2

— Nigerian Defence Academy (@NDefenceAcademy) June 26, 2024

Reporting by Kunle Daramola and Ayodele Oluwafemi