By Nkechi Eze
Captain Abiodun Abidemi Folorunsho has officially assumed duty as the new Director of Naval Information and Spokesperson of the Nigerian Navy, following his appointment by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, Admiralty Medal.
Captain Folorunsho took over on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, from Commodore Aiwuyor Adams-Aliu, who has served in the position for over two years and has now been redeployed to a higher strategic appointment as Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) BEECROFT, the Nigerian Navy’s premier base.
In an official signed statement, the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral A.O. Olodude, said the appointment reflects the CNS’s confidence in Captain Folorunsho’s professional competence, depth of experience and strong background in maritime operations, strategy, training and public communication.
Born on 27 December 1979 in Benin City, Captain Folorunsho hails from the family of the late Major Peter Adeboji (rtd) and Mrs Rukayat Esther Folorunsho. He had his primary education at Olua Primary School, Benin City, and Army Command Children School, Zaria, before proceeding to the Nigerian Military School, Zaria, where he completed his secondary education between 1991 and 1996. He was admitted into the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) in 1998 as a member of the 50 Regular Course and was commissioned into the Nigerian Navy as a Sub-Lieutenant in September 2003.
The new naval spokesman holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Mechanical Engineering from the NDA, Kaduna, and a Master of Science degree in War Studies (Maritime) from the National Defence University, Islamabad, Pakistan. He also possesses a Master of Science degree in International Affairs and Defence Studies from the NDA, Kaduna; a Master of Science degree in Energy Management from the World Maritime University, Malmö, Sweden; and a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College, Rhode Island, USA. In addition, he holds a Graduate Certificate in Ethics and Emerging Military Technology from the United States Naval War College.
Captain Folorunsho has attended several local and international professional military courses, including the Junior Staff Course at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Jaji; Senior Staff Course at the Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore; United Nations Staff Officers Course at the SWEDINT Training Centre, Stockholm, Sweden; Naval Warfare Course at the Naval War College of Nigeria, Calabar; and the Higher Defence Management Course at the United States Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island, in 2023.
Since his commissioning, he has served on board various Nigerian Navy ships and in key shore appointments. His early career included duties as Watchkeeping Officer, Assistant Marine Engineering Officer and Marine Engineering Officer on NNS ERINOMI, NNS AYAM and NNS BARAMA between 2003 and 2008.
He later served with Operation SAFE HAVEN (now Operation ENDURING PEACE) as Company Commander and Operations Officer, Bravo Company, Task Force Battalion from January to October 2010, and subsequently as Officer-in-Charge, Boat Platoon at Qua Iboe Terminal, ExxonMobil, Ibeno, from 2010 to 2011.
Captain Folorunsho also served as Commanding Officer, Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Defence and Firefighting School at the Nigerian Navy Institute of Technology, Sapele, in 2011, and as Directing Staff at AFCSC, Jaji, between 2013 and 2015. He was Military Liaison Officer at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan from 2016 to 2017.
Between 2018 and 2019, he served as Manager Production and Manager Plans at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Lagos, where he played key roles in the Nigerian Navy’s indigenous shipbuilding efforts, including the construction of NNS OJI. He later served as Assistant Director, Research and Development at the Defence Cyber Operations Centre.
Most recently, he was Chief Instructor, Department of Maritime Warfare, AFCSC Jaji, from 2023 to 2025, and thereafter Assistant Director Plans/CNS Directive at the Naval Headquarters before his elevation as Director of Naval Information.
Beyond operations and training, Captain Folorunsho brings strong communication credentials, having undertaken extensive editorial work on magazines and journals across Nigerian Armed Forces formations. He has also served as a compere at numerous local, national and international engagements for the Nigerian Navy, sister services and tri-service institutions, and has been a resource person on public speaking and protocol management at professional military education institutions.
His awards include the Chief of the Naval Staff Award for Best Graduating Student, Junior Staff Course (Department of Maritime Warfare) at AFCSC Jaji in December 2009; Chief of the Naval Staff Award for Best Graduating Student, Naval Warfare Course, Naval War College of Nigeria in 2019; and the Force Commander UNMISS Commendation Award in 2017.
His decorations include the Forces Service Star, Meritorious Service Star, United Nations Medal, Passed Naval War College (Pakistan), Passed Staff Course Dagger (psc+), General Operations Medal, Silver Eagle Award and Golden Eagle Award. He is a Fellow of the Naval War College Nigeria and the United States Naval War College.
Captain Folorunsho is a member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, an Associate Member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, and a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management. He is also a Fellow of the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, Japan, and the United States Naval War College Foundation.
He is happily married to Mrs Olawunmi Folorunsho, and their union is blessed with two children.
