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From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
For his sterling performance in service, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla (Rtd), immediate ex-Chief of Naval Staff will be hosted to a grand civic reception by Umuopu Ancient Kindgom (his home town) in Igbo Eze Local Government Area, Enugu State on January 6, 2026.
His Royal Highness Igwe Cyril Ayogu, the traditional ruler of the kingdom, disclosed this after a meeting of the Igwe-in-council and other stakeholders on Wednesday.
Igwe Ayogu said the planned civic reception was in recognition of the positive contributions of Vice Admiral Ogalla, immediate past Chief of the Naval Staff to Umuopu community, Enugu State and indeed Nigeria as a matter of fact.
Vice Admiral Ogalla had a distinguished career in the Nigerian Navy, starting from the Nigerian Military School Zaria where he made the best result in the West African School Certificate Examination and achieved the same feat in the Nigerian Defence Academy. He was awarded the distinguished Sword of Honour as the best overall graduating student from the academy by the then Military President General Ibrahim Babangida.
In just about two years and four months as the CNS, Ogalla left indelible footprints in the Nigerian Navy in terms of executed development projects, personnel welfare and above all, maritime security.
He executed landmark projects in Navy Town, Lagos; Kaduna, Benue, Enugu, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Delta, Abuja, Rivers, and many other states of the federation.
Under his watch, crude oil production improved from 1.4 million barrels per day as at June 2023 to 1.8 million barrels per day.There was no incidence of piracy in Nigerian waters all through his tenure.
In effect, maritime security got a huge boost with the launch of Operation Delta Sanity in January 2025 which targeted illegal oil bunkers.
The planned reception marks his first visit to his home town since his retirement on October 24, this year.
The reception is a two-day programme, scheduled for January 5 and 6 2026, which kicks off with a suya night on January 5. The main event holds on January 6, 2026 with a Thanksgiving Mass at 12:00pm, followed by a grand community reception at the Central School Grounds, Umuopu.
Vice Admiral Ogalla served as the 24th Chief of the Naval Staff, having been appointed in June 2023. His tenure was marked by a commitment to professionalism, ethical conduct, and operational efficiency, as well as sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening maritime security.
For the Umuopu community, his leadership holds particular significance. During his tenure, the Nigerian Navy sited and established a fully operational Naval College in Umuopu, an initiative widely regarded as a major educational and economic boost to the area. In addition, a strategic access road leading to the college was constructed, passing through several communities in Enugu Ezike and significantly improving connectivity and socio-economic activity.
Chief Uroko Nwa Ossai, the oldest man in the community, and other community leaders described the reception as an opportunity to express gratitude to a son whose national service yielded tangible development both at home, and across the country.
The organising committee said the event is expected to attract government officials, traditional rulers, senior military officers, and guests from across the country and the diaspora.
