SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHIKADIBIA ISAAC OBIAKOR OF NIGERIA FORCE COMMANDER OF LIBERIA MISSION

SECRETARY-GENERAL APPOINTS LIEUTENANT GENERAL CHIKADIBIA ISAAC OBIAKOR

OF NIGERIA FORCE COMMANDER OF LIBERIA MISSION

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced today the appointment of Lieutenant General Chikadibia Obiakor of Nigeria as Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), effective 1 January 2006.

Lieutenant General Obiakor has had a long and distinguished career with the Nigerian Army, beginning in 1973.  He is currently the General Officer Commanding, Second Mechanized Division, of the Nigerian Army.  He has served as the Commander of the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) Artillery Brigade in Liberia in 1996 and 1997, and as the ECOMOG Chief Coordinator of the Liberian elections in July 1997.  He has also served as the Chief of Administration of the Nigerian Army, with responsibility for the welfare, discipline and medical services for all Nigerian military personnel.

Born on 18 February 1951, Lieutenant General Obiakor is a graduate of the National War College in Abuja.  He holds a Master of Science degree in strategic studies from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, and has participated in numerous international military courses.

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For information media • not an official record