President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, has conferred the prestigious Grand Commander of the Order of the Rokel on Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, in recognition of his contributions to peace and stability in Sierra Leone.
The decoration took place during a colourful parade marking the 17th Armed Forces Day of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces. The award recognises General Oluyede’s role in securing and sustaining peace in the country while serving under the Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), as well as honours the sacrifices of Nigerian officers and soldiers who contributed to restoring stability during Sierra Leone’s civil war.
According to his citation read at the ceremony, General Oluyede served with ECOMOG in Sierra Leone between 1992 and 1994. He was deployed as a Platoon Commander at the residence of the then Sierra Leone Head of State, where he demonstrated exemplary leadership, professionalism and unwavering commitment to the protection of government institutions and the restoration of peace.
The ceremony also recognised other distinguished military figures from Nigeria and allied nations. Among them were former Nigerian Chief of Defence Staff, General Martin Luther Agwai (rtd); Lieutenant General Daniel Opande (rtd) of Kenya; Lieutenant General Ibrahima Sory Bangoura of Guinea; Major General Paul Rogers of the United States; and Brigadier General Edward Butler (rtd) of the United Kingdom.
During the event, solemn tribute was paid to the courage, sacrifice and solidarity of the Nigerian Armed Forces, whose steadfast commitment under ECOMOG placed them at the forefront of regional peace enforcement during Sierra Leone’s civil war. The Nigerian contingent was commended for its bravery, resilience and dedication to the protection of civilians.
The recognition underscores the enduring bonds of military cooperation and regional solidarity between Sierra Leone and Nigeria.
