The Defence Headquarters has announced a change in the name of Armed Forces Remembrance Day to Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.
The Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, confirmed this in a statement on Thursday, explaining that the new name better reflects the dual purpose of the occasion celebrating serving personnel of the Armed Forces of Nigeria while also honouring those who lost their lives in the defence of the country.
According to Uba, January 15 remains the officially designated date by the Federal Government to recognise the sacrifices of both active and fallen military personnel. The annual commemoration is preceded by a week-long series of activities and culminates in a grand parade and wreath-laying ceremony on January 15.
He noted that the renaming was aimed at correcting the long-standing perception that the event focuses solely on fallen heroes, stressing that serving personnel equally deserve recognition for their ongoing sacrifices in safeguarding the nation’s territorial integrity, lives, and property.
Uba urged media organisations to adopt the new name in all future reports and coverage, adding that the Armed Forces appreciate the media’s continued support in addressing Nigeria’s security challenges and look forward to stronger collaboration.
Armed Forces Remembrance Day has traditionally been observed on January 15 to honour Nigerian soldiers who died in service to the nation. The new designation reflects the military’s effort to strike a balance between remembrance of the fallen and celebration of those still in active service.
