Lt. Gen. Joseph Olorungbon Owonibi
Former Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia

"International Strides for Inclusive Peacebuilding" - October 23, 2007 Due to the fires affecting the San Diego region and the subsequent closure of the University of San Diego the week of Oct. 21, 2007, the Distinguished Lecture Series event planned for October 23 was officially cancelled. The three distinguished panelists – Priscilla Hayner, Joyce Neu and Lt. Gen. Joseph Olorungbon Owonibi – instead gave their presentations during a private session of the Women PeaceMakers Summit held at the Hacienda Hotel in Old Town, San Diego. He also gave an interview with Executive Director Joyce Neu.   Read Interview

Lt. Gen. Joseph Olorungbon Owonibi of Nigeria was appointed force commander of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) in 2005 and retired from military service in 2006. Beginning in November 2003, Owonibi served as the deputy force commander and chief military observer of UNMIL. Prior to that, he served in several high-level national and international positions, including coordinator of the Nigerian Army Training Group, which undertook the reorganization and training of the Gambian National Army from 1992 to 1994, and commander of the 1st Reconnaissance Company in support of the Nigerian battalion within the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

Owonibi began his service with the Nigerian Army in 1971 and is a graduate of the National War College in Abuja. He holds an M.Sc. in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, and has diplomas in Public Administration from the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria and the University of Kentucky.

Updated on 10/23/2007