Armed Forces Remembrance Day: ATD Honours Nigeria’s Past Military Leaders

A line from Nigeria’s national anthem reads, “The labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain.” This, we believe, captures the essence of national holidays and memorials such as Armed Forces Remembrance Day.

The Armed Forces Remembrance Day (or Remembrance Day), which is January 15 every year, is a national holiday in Nigeria commemorating all servicemen of the Nigerian Armed Forces and veterans of World Wars I & II and the Nigerian Civil War. The Day was formerly celebrated as Poppy Day, a celebration observed among the Commonwealth nations to honour fallen heroes since the end of World War I, before it was changed to January 15, reflecting the date that the Nigerian Civil War, which nearly tore the country apart, officially ended.

Ceremonies and events to mark the 2022 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Celebration (AFRDC) went as follows:

• The Nigerian Legion Humanitarian Day, October 15, 2021.
• President Buhari’s, along with all state governors’, launching of the Emblem and Appeal Fund at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, October 20, 2021.
• Jumat prayers at the National Mosque, Friday, January 7, 2022; Inter-Denominational church service at the National Christian Centre, Sunday, January 9, 2022.
• The laying of wreaths by the president, the vice president, the Senate president, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, January 15, 2022. This, along with military parades and the release of white pigeons from their cages, represents the peak of the AFRDC.

Today we pay tribute to all the men and women of the Nigerian Armed forces — fallen heroes, who lost their lives defending the country; veterans, who have devoted their lives in service of the nation; and active servicemen who, in the protracted fight against terrorism, banditry, and kidnapping, keep endless vigils in the forest just so we can sleep and feel safe at night. This day presents an opportunity for us to consider the welfare of our war veterans and widows of departed heroes. Let’s ensure that these people are cared for, and that they do not in any way feel neglected.

ATD honors Nigeria’s fallen heroes, whose efforts and sacrifices toward nation-building are incalculable. The Discovery Museum, Art Tech District, features a section dedicated to Nigeria’s past military leaders. This section is the only fixed installment at the museum, which is one of the many ways in which we demonstrate deference and appreciation for the labors and sacrifices of our brave men and women.

And as the nation continues to struggle with the problem of insecurity, we stand by our Armed Forces and reiterate our faith in their competence, their courage, their patriotism, their loyalty, and their commitment to keeping Nigeria united and safe.