By Victor Akaa, Abuja.
The Nigerian Army has appointed a New Director Army Public Relations. He is Brigadier General Mohammed M. Yerima who takes over from Brigadier General Sagir Musa.
Brigadier General Sagir Musa, the outgoing Director ,Army Public Relations has been redeployed to Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC), Kotangora in Niger state as a member training Team.
Brigadier General Yerima, who served as Director Defence Information (DDI) was a Deputy Director Reserve at the Defence Headquarters(DHQ) before been appointed to the new assignment as Director, Army Public Relations by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Major General Ibrahim Attahiru.
General Yerima, before enrolling into the Nigerian Army in December1989, has obtained a BA Ed Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, he was then commissioned into the corps of Army Public Relations.
The new Army spokesperson had served in various military Formations and Units in different capacities.
He served two times in Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Mina , as Aide De Camp (ADC) to then Commander,
Major General Ishola William between 1990-1993, and as the Deputy Director Production from 2013-2017.
He was also Public Relations Officer NAOWA in the Office of Chief of Army Staff 1994, Spokesperson 81 Division of the Nigerian Army 1995-1996, PRO Nigerian Defence Academy 1996-2000, Military Spokesperson United Nation Mission in Siera Leone 2000-2002.
He also served as Public Relation Officer (PRO), to Chief of Army Staff 2003, PRO Chief of Defence Staff 2005, Deputy Director Public Relation 1 of Nigerian Army 2008 ,Chief of Staff and Coordinator at Directorate of Army Public Relations 2007-2009 and Director Defence Information in 2009 to 2013.
He was also served as Deputy Director Reserve Defence Headquarters,the position he held until his new appointment as Army spokesperson.
General Yerima is also a member of the following professional bodies,they include; Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), African Public Relations Association (APRA) as well as Fellow of West Africa Society for Administration and Communication.
He was the Chairman of Media and Information Committee on Emergency Management (MICEM)
Brigadier General Yerima has participated in different international seminars, courses and programmes.
Noticeable among them include; he participated at Senior Strategic Media Operation programme at Reach Cambridge and at Kofi Annan Centre, Ghana.
He also attended Senior Leadership Course at Sheringham United Kingdom and undertook a US-Embassy funded Media tour of Africom in Studgarf Germany.
Brigadier General Yerima was once a Nigeria’s finest Army Polo Player and Administrator who led the Nigeria delegation to King Mohammad V1 International Polo Tournament in Rabat, Morocco.
General Yerima is expected to officially take over from Brig-Gen. Saghir Musa, on Wednesday, 10th February, 2021.
