From Sylvia Udegbunam, Enugu

Former Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla (rtd), has been described as a patriot, a man of courageous, and exemplary officer whose career was defined by selfless service to Nigeria and an enduring commitment to national security and human capital development.

The encomiums were poured on the ex-service chief during a reception organised in his honour by the Enugu State Government to mark the successful completion of his tenure as Chief of the Naval Staff.

Speaking at the event, which took place at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, at the weekend, Governor Peter Mbah said that the former service chief earned the love of his people and colleagues through impactful leadership that transcended the ranks he wore and the offices he occupied.

“Rank gives you authority. It does not automatically earn devotion. Office can command respect. But neither can command love. That is earned quietly, over time, through relationships and by the way you treat people when no one is watching,” he stated.

He commended Ogalla’s commitment to security and human capital development, highlighting the establishment of a naval base at Ogurugu, Uzo Uwani Local Government Area, and Navy Secondary School, Umuopu, both in Igbo Eze North LGA of Enugu State.

“An operational naval base strengthens security today, and a naval school will help shape tomorrow’s leaders. One protects the present. The other invests in the future,” he said.

Mbah urged Nigerians to emulate the Ex-Naval chief’s exemplary service at their various levels of leadership.

The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), stressed that Ogalla’s military career was marked by professionalism, discipline, courage, innovation, patriotism and unwavering commitment to peace, repositioning the Navy as strategic partner in protecting the nation’s maritime interests.

“He is someone that transforms. His genius, integrity, discipline, and commitment to excellence earned him the respect of colleagues, supporters, and the nation,” Musa stated.

The minister emphasised his faith in the strategic import of the South East to Nigeria and commended the progress made by the region in general and Enugu State in particular under Governor Mbah’s leadership in the last three years.

“We are proud of the South East. And my joy is that the South East is getting it right. Within three years, we have seen massive changes across the South East,” he said.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, described Ogalla as a calm, humble, highly intelligent and dedicated officer whose exemplary leadership and professionalism had set a high standard in the Nigerian Navy.

Recalling their days together at the Nigerian Defence Academy and their decades of military service, Aneke said the former service chief’s character and achievements had inspired younger officers, noting that the outpouring of emotion during his pulling-out ceremony was a testament to the kind of leader he was.

“Sir, I want to thank you on behalf of the good people of Enugu State; you fought the good battle. You represented us well and we’re proud you’re our own,” he said.

He also commended Governor Mbah for organising the reception, saying, “If you don’t celebrate your own, nobody would do that for you.”

Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Samuel Asadu, commended Governor Peter Mbah for fulfilling his promise to honour Ogalla and appreciated President Bola Tinubu for giving him the opportunity to serve as Chief of the Naval Staff.

As the traditional ruler representing Ogalla’s senatorial zone, Igwe Asadu stressed that the event was a powerful demonstration of gratitude, noting that there was no virtue greater than honouring those who had served their people and country faithfully.

Responding, Ogalla expressed immense gratitude to Enugu State, his family, military constituency, and friends for the love shown to him.

“I must specifically thank the Governor for organising this event. I must say that I am overwhelmed by what I have seen here today,” he stated.

He commended Mbah for his massive development strides and for adopting both kinetic and non-kinetic approaches in the fight against insecurity.

“I believe that what our Governor is doing is unprecedented. And I believe that we need to give him maximum support to help the people of Enugu State and Nigeria to grow.

“The modern concept of security is not just military might and weapons, but also human security, improving the capacity of the citizens, providing employment, providing education. And these are exactly what the Governor is taking as his priorities,” he emphasised.

He expressed special gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the opportunity to rise to the pinnacle of his career and to actualise his dream to take the Nigerian Navy to greater heights.

The event was attended by serving and retired military chiefs and prominent leaders, including former President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani; former Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke (Retd.); former Chief of the Army Staff and former Chief of the Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika.

From Jude Dangwam, Jos

The Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, Plateau State Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof.

Nentawe Yilwatda, on Saturday joined other prominent Nigerians in celebrating former Plateau State Governor and elder statesman, Senator Jonah David Jang, as he marked his 80th birthday with the public presentation of his autobiography, Airman to Politics: My Life, in Jos.

The event attracted political leaders across party lines, traditional rulers, clergy, diplomats, captains of industry, and other distinguished guests who gathered to honour Senator Jang’s decades of service in the military, politics, and public life.

In his remarks, Vice President Shettima described Jang as a leader whose life has been defined by sacrifice, courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to peace and national unity. He urged younger Nigerians to embrace reconciliation instead of division and called on Plateau leaders to work together for lasting peace.

“I challenge the elites of Plateau, all seated here, to rally together and bring enduring peace to the state. Plateau possesses enormous opportunities. With the right mix of leadership, innovation, and unity, Plateau can become a model of national cohesion and prosperity,” he said.

Shettima added that Nigeria’s diversity should remain a source of strength rather than division. He also announced the appointment of Hon. Yakubu David Jang as Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu, describing the appointment as recognition of competence and service.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan described the occasion as a celebration of faith, service, leadership, and sacrifice, noting that Jang’s autobiography is more than a personal memoir, but an important contribution to Nigeria’s political history.

Recalling their working relationship, Jonathan praised the former governor’s commitment to Plateau State and national unity, saying, “Senator Jang is positively stubborn whenever he believes a decision is in the best interest of Plateau people,” describing the trait as evidence of principled and courageous leadership.

Governor Caleb Mutfwang paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, describing him as a father, mentor, and exemplary statesman whose leadership inspired his own political journey. He revealed that a private leadership conversation with Jang in 2016 significantly shaped his philosophy of governance.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has approved the appointment of Engr. Adeleye Falade, FNSE, as a Director on its Board.

The appointment, according to a statement  yesterday by NESG Chief Exwcutjve Officer, Dr Tayo Aduloju,  was announced at the NESG 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM), held on July 14, 2026, at the NESG Summit House in Lagos and virtually.

According to the statement, the AGM, which reviewed the activities and financial performance of the organisation for the financial year ended December 31, 2025, brought together members of the Board of Directors, members of the Group, auditors, company secretaries, and key stakeholders.

The appointment of Falade further reflects the NESG’s commitment to strengthening its leadership with accomplished professionals whose expertise and experience will support the Group’s mission of promoting sustainable economic development, inclusive growth, and private sector-driven transformation in Nigeria.

 Falade is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), one of the world’s leading liquefied natural gas companies and a strategic contributor to Nigeria’s economic development and energy transition agenda. He brings close to three decades of leadership experience across the global oil and gas industry, spanning upstream, midstream, and LNG operations.

Over the course of his career, Falade has built a distinguished record within the Shell Group and the international LNG industry, holding senior technical, operational, and executive leadership positions across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Russia, and Africa. His expertise spans operations management, business transformation, engineering, production optimisation, organisational effectiveness, operational excellence, and stakeholder engagement.

Prior to his appointment as Managing Director and CEO of NLNG, Falade served as Managing Director of Brunei LNG Sendirian Berhad, where he led one of the world’s established LNG producers. He also served as Country Chair for Shell Namibia, providing strategic leadership for Shell’s business and stakeholder engagements in the country.

He held key leadership positions at NLNG, including General Manager, Production, and Operations Manager, where he contributed to advancing plant reliability, operational performance, safety, and business improvement initiatives. He is widely recognised for his commitment to safety, operational discipline, governance excellence, organisational transformation, and sustainable value creation.

Falade holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from the University of Ibadan and an MBA from Henley Business School, University of Reading, United Kingdom. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (FNSE) and a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).

As a Director on the NESG Board, Falade brings deep expertise in energy, infrastructure, governance, business transformation, and national economic development. His extensive private-sector experience will contribute valuable perspectives to the NESG’s policy dialogue and its efforts to advance reforms that promote investment, productivity, competitiveness, and sustainable economic growth.