The event, which pays tribute to Nigeria’s military personnel, past and present, formerly coincided with Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) for World War 11 veterans in the British Commonwealth of Nations and was celebrated on November 11 of every year. Nigeria later changed the date to January 15 in commemoration of the surrender of Biafran troops to the federal troops on January 15, 1970.
The Nigeria Ministry of Education has directed its personnel to be part of the events leading to the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day to honour the Nigerian Armed Forces, veterans, and fallen heroes. The ministry, in a statement, directed its agencies to join the celebration by wearing the AFRD emblem until January 15th, the day of the celebration, which usually witnesses military parades, wreath-laying ceremonies across the country, and special ceremonies at cenotaphs of the unknown soldiers.
The event, which pays tribute to Nigeria’s military personnel, past and present, formerly coincided with Remembrance Day (Poppy Day) for the World War 11 veterans in the British Commonwealth of Nations, and was celebrated on November 11 of every year. Nigeria later changed the date to January 15 in commemoration of the surrender of Biafran troops to the federal troops on January 15, 1970.
The 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day coincides with sustained renewed agitations in Nigeria’s southeast and the social and economic instabilities in its trail.
