The Defence Headquarters has officially renamed Armed Forces Remembrance Day as Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day
The announcement was made on Thursday by the Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, who explained that the change reflects the dual purpose of the event: to honour serving members of the Nigerian Armed Forces while also remembering those who sacrificed their lives defending the nation.
“January 15 is set aside annually by the Federal Government to recognise the dedication of our serving personnel and to acknowledge the sacrifices of those who paid the supreme price to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity, as well as the lives and properties of its citizens,” Uba said.
He added that the annual observance is preceded by a week of activities and culminates in a grand parade and wreath-laying ceremony on January 15.
“Previously known as ‘Armed Forces Remembrance Day,’ the name has been officially changed to ‘Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day’ to better capture the essence of the occasion — honouring the living while remembering the fallen,” Uba explained.
The general also urged media organisations to use the new name in all future reporting. “The Armed Forces of Nigeria respectfully calls on the media to adopt ‘Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day’ in all coverage. We appreciate the media’s ongoing support in the fight against insecurity and look forward to stronger collaboration,” he said.
Traditionally observed on January 15, the event has largely focused on commemorating fallen soldiers, with wreath-laying ceremonies held nationwide. The renaming signals the military’s effort to balance remembrance of the fallen with recognition of active-duty personnel.
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