Tinubu Appoints Grace Morenike Henry as First Female to Lead Nigerian Legion
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made a landmark appointment, naming Ms. Grace Morenike Henry as the new Chairman of the National Council of the Nigerian Legion. This historic decision makes Ms. Henry the first female and first non-commissioned officer to lead Nigeria’s premier veterans’ organization.
The appointment, communicated through a letter signed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, is effective June 7, 2025.
Ms. Henry, born on October 5, 1964, brings over 25 years of distinguished service to her new role, having retired from the Nigerian Army in 2000. Before this appointment, she served as the Director of Corporate Affairs at the Legion Headquarters in Abuja and is currently the National Coordinator of Female Military Veterans of Nigeria.
She succeeds Maj. Gen. AbdulMalik Jibrin (rtd). Her appointment is widely seen as a significant step by the Federal Government towards gender equality and inclusiveness within the veterans’ community.
President Tinubu expressed his confidence in Ms. Henry’s leadership, urging her to leverage her extensive experience to reposition the Nigerian Legion. The organization has long served as a crucial voice and support system for the nation’s ex-servicemen and women. Her emergence signals a renewed era of reform and revitalization for the Legion, at a time of increasing calls for enhanced veteran welfare and institutional reinvigoration.
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The Nigerian Legion is a statutory body established by law to cater to the welfare and interests of ex-servicemen and their dependents, particularly those who served in the Nigerian Armed Forces. Its core mandates include providing support for the rehabilitation, reintegration, and economic empowerment of military veterans; promoting patriotism and national unity through remembrance activities like the Armed Forces Remembrance Day; and collaborating with government agencies, security institutions, and civil society to uphold the dignity and contributions of retired service personnel. The Legion also engages in security-related services, advocacy, and public enlightenment to enhance the visibility and relevance of veterans in national development.
Meanwhile, the National Council of Nigerian Legion has addressed a misleading report that falsely listed four individuals, including Ms. Grace Henry Morenike, as the “most powerful non-commissioned military veterans” in Nigeria. The Legion describes the publication as divisive and mischievous, designed to create factions within the veterans’ community.
Ms. Grace Morenike Henry, the newly appointed Chairman of the National Council of Nigerian Legion, has unequivocally dissociated herself from the publication.
“Leadership is not about grandstanding or media manipulation,” Ms. Henry stated. “Under my stewardship, there is no concept of anyone being ‘most powerful.’ We are a unified body representing the interests and welfare of all Nigerian military veterans, commissioned and non-commissioned alike.”
Ms. Henry strongly condemned any attempt to create artificial hierarchies or caucuses within the veterans’ structure, emphasizing that the Nigerian Legion remains an institution built on unity, integrity, and service, not self-promotion or political positioning.
She urged the public, stakeholders, and the wider veterans’ community to disregard the article, highlighting its lack of attribution, verifiable sources, and journalistic integrity. She characterized it as “nothing more than a poorly veiled attempt at attention-seeking by unknown elements trying to sow division.”
The Chairman reiterated her commitment to the welfare, dignity, and unity of all veterans and urged the media to refrain from peddling unverified claims or misrepresenting her office for ulterior motives.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Ms. Grace Morenike Henry belongs to everyone, and to no one in particular,” stated Chief Abdul Lauya, Senior Special Assistant to the Chairman on Media & Digital Communications. “She serves all Nigerian veterans without bias or affiliation.”
By PRNigeria
