UN appoints Award-Winning Nigeria’s Military Officer Benjamin Sawyerr as UNISFA Commander

UN appoints Award-Winning Nigeria’s
Military Officer Benjamin Sawyerr as UNISFA Commander

– The United Nations (UN), Secretary-General António Guterres has announced the appointment of Major General Benjamin Sawyerr of Nigeria as the Force Commander for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei, UNISFA.

General Sawyerr who was the immediate past Director of Defence Information (DDI), Defence Headquarters last year bagged the “Media Friendly Personality” at the 3rd Security and Emergency Management Award (SAEMA).

He succeeds Maj. Gen. Kefyalew Amde Tessema of Ethiopia to whom the secretary-general is grateful for his dedication, invaluable service and effective leadership during his appointment with UNISFA.

Abyei is an area of 10,546 km2 on the border between South Sudan and the Sudan that had been accorded “special administrative status” by the 2004 Protocol on the Resolution of the Abyei Conflict (Abyei Protocol) in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, CPA, that ended the Second Sudanese Civil War.

Before his appointment as DDI, he had served as Commandant of the Nigerian Army Armour School in Bauchi State, North East Nigeria (2020-2021).

He held the position of Brigade Commander twice in North East Nigeria, and was Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Battalion with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (2009-2010).

He also served as the Director of Plans at the Nigerian Army Headquarters (2019-2020) and Deputy Director of Doctrine and Combat Development (2017-2018).

Sawyerr holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in Nigeria and a Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras in India.

He was conferred with the SAEMA honours for demonstrating exceptional leadership qualities, amiability and a high sense of responsibility in discharging his duty.

“Within the short period of his tenure, he enhanced media relations activities by attending to press inquiries most times even in the face of occasional provocations.

“He also organized media workshops and retreats to further enhance mutual and beneficial relationships,” the citation for his award said.

The SAEMA Award organized by the Emergency Digest, a publication of the award-winning Image Merchants Promotion Limited in conjunction with the Centre for Crisis Communication (CCC) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) recognises and celebrates outstanding contributions in security and emergency management with a view to creating a resilient and professional approach in tackling national challenges.

Also honoured at the last year event was Lt. Col. Ponfa Andrew Wuyep of the Nigerian Army, Flt. Lt. Abayomi A. Dairo of the Nigerian Airforce, and Inspector Abimaje Isaiah of the NSCDC and ASP Mariam Yusuf of the police.

Others winners of individual categories of the SAEMA award included , Mrs Abimbola Animashawun of the Nigeria Customs Service, Saminu Audu of the Civilian JTF and Sifon Essien of the TVC.

By PRNigeria