Major General Sawyerr Awards UN Medals to Nigerian Troops in Recognition of Peacekeeping Excellence
Major General Sawyerr Awards UN Medals to Nigerian Troops in Recognition of Peacekeeping Excellence
Major General Sawyerr Awards UN Medals to Nigerian Troops in Recognition of Peacekeeping Excellence
In a distinguished ceremony held on February 26, 2024, Major General Benjamin Olufemi Sawyerr, the Acting Head of Mission and Force Commander for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), awarded UN Medals to the Commanding Officer and troops of the Nigerian Base Defence Company (NBDC 1).
During the presentation, General Sawyerr expressed immense joy, national pride, and a sense of accomplishment as he conferred the medal awards upon the first Nigerian Contingent deployed to UNISFA. “I would like to commend you for your outstanding service, for this successful completion of your tour of duty in the mission,” he said.
The NBDC-1, with an initial unit strength of 160 personnel from the Armed Forces of Nigeria, including a remarkable 32 female peacekeepers— the highest representation by any Troop Contributing Country (TCC) in UNISFA, was inducted into the mission on March 9, 2023. The unit strength was later increased to 171 personnel, incorporating a Close Protection Team for the Ag Head of Mission and Force Commander, deployed on November 25, 2023.
General Sawyerr applauded the NBDC for its commitment to projecting Nigeria’s positive image in UN Peacekeeping and contributing significantly to the global peace initiative. He specifically commended the leadership of the Contingent Commander, Colonel Esidiong James Nkereuwem, for ensuring Nigeria’s strong representation in UNISFA.
The Force Commander praised the troops for their effective protection of the Force and Mission Headquarters camp, successful implementation of Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) activities to engage the Abyei community, and overall enhancement of UNISFA’s operational efficiency in fulfilling its mission mandate.
Highlighting the NBDC-1’s exemplary discipline, General Sawyerr lauded the Commanding Officer for maintaining a commendable record with no disciplinary cases reported since their arrival at the mission.
In conclusion, Major General Sawyerr emphasised that the NBDC-1’s dedication and achievements serve as a shining example for future Nigerian contingents to UNISFA. The Medal Parade witnessed the presence of key figures, including Traditional Leaders of the Ngok Dinka Chiefdoms, OiC Deputy Force Commander, Chief Joint Border Verification Monitoring Mechanism, Members of the Mission Leadership Team, Force Chief of Staff, Principal Staff Officers of the Force Headquarters, Contingent Commanders, Department Heads, and Military Observers and Civilian Staff of the Mission.
The ceremony stood as a testament to the unwavering commitment of Nigerian troops to international peacekeeping efforts and their invaluable contributions to maintaining peace and stability in conflict regions.
Major General Sawyerr Awards UN Medals to Nigerian Troops in Recognition of Peacekeeping Excellence
