Nigerian Navy Commends Rear Admiral CE Okafor Rtd for Winning the 2023 British Alexander Dalrymple Award

Chiemelie Ezeobi

The Nigerian Navy (NN), yesterday commended Rear Admiral Chukwuemeka Okafor (Rtd) for bagging the 2023 British Alexander Dalrymple Award. 

Okafor, who was the immediate past

Hydrographer of the NN, was selected by a committee and presented as part of UK Hydrographic Office’s (UKHO’s) World Hydrography Day celebration, by UK’s Ministry of Defence.

In a congratulatory message to the Rear Admiral who has made Nigeria and the Nigerian Navy proud even in retirement, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Nigerian Navy, Vice Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, commended his contribution to building hydrography capacity both locally and globally and his robust service to the Nigerian Navy.  

The release issued by the NN Director of Information, Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, on behalf of the CNS read in part, “The Alexander Dalrymple award was initiated by the UK Government in 2006 in honour of UK’s First Hydrographer, appointed by the Royal Navy in 1795.

 “Since then, the award is presented annually as part of UK Hydrographic Office’s (UKHO’s) World Hydrography Day celebration, by UK’s Ministry of Defence to recipients selected by a diligent committee. 

“The recipient is usually selected from many nominees from different nations. These nominees must have contributed significantly to improving the standards of hydrography, cartography and navigational safety.

“Accordingly, the UKHO Committee selected Rear Admiral CE Okafor (rtd) of the Nigerian Navy as the Recipient of the 2023 Alexander Dalrymple Award. 

“The senior officer was recognise for his outstanding contributions and tireless efforts in developing Nigeria’s national hydrographic capacity culminated in making Nigeria the first country in West Africa to produce an indigenous International navigational chart in both paper and electronic format, as well as the development of a national hydrographic survey fleet with full charting capability.

“Accordingly, Rear Admiral CE Okafor (rtd) was honoured on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, as he received the prestigious Alexander Dalrymple Award for 2023 in London, England. 

“The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral EI Ogalla and all the Officers and men of the NN heartily congratulates our own dear Rear Admiral CE Okafor (rtd).

 “Thank you for your great contribution to building hydrography capacity both locally and globally and your robust service to the Nigerian Navy. “