Admiral Michelle J. Howard, who is the commander of US naval forces in Africa, at the weekend visited Abuja, the Nigerian capital.
During her visit from September 7 to 8, Howard, who is also the commander of US naval forces in Europe and the commander of allied joint force command in Naples, met senior Nigerian civilian and military officials to discuss maritime collaboration and naval bilateral relationships.
She was at the Nigerian naval headquarters for discussions with the chief of naval staff, vice admiral Ibom Ete Ibas.
“Nigeria has over 450 miles of coastline and their central location in the Gulf of Guinea makes their Navy a key player in the fight against illicit maritime activity, and I am visiting to discuss the security challenges and deepening our relationship in training and exercises,” said Howard.
The Admiral also met with Nigerian graduates of US service academies and delivered a presentation on women, peace, and security at the Nigerian Defence College.
The visit allowed Howard to talk to Nigerian leaders about the significant contributions they can make to confronting security challenges and enhancing stability throughout the region.
US naval forces Europe-Africa, headquartered in Naples, Italy, oversees joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied, joint, and interagency partners, to enable enduring relationships and increase vigilance and resilience in Europe and Africa.
Admiral Howard graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1982, and from the Army’s Command and General Staff College in 1998, with a master’s degree in military arts and sciences.
She took command of USS Rushmore (LSD 47) in March 12, 1999, becoming the first African American woman to command a ship in the US Navy.
On July 1, 2014, Howard became the first woman promoted to the rank of four-star admiral in the US Navy.
Also, on that day, she was appointed the 38th vice-chief of naval operations (VCNO), making her the second highest ranking officer in the US navy.
