VICE President Kashim Shettima on Wednesday represented President Bola Tinubu as Special guest of honour at the National Arcade, the venue of the activities climaxing the 2025 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day parade in Abuja.
The Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration is an annual event organised by the Ministry of Defence to commemorate the country’s fallen heroes who paid the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of humanity during the First and Second World Wars, the Nigerian Civil War, Peace Support Operations around the world, as well as various Internal Security Operations.
In commemoration of the end of the Nigerian civil war which occurred on 15th January, the date was chosen to mark the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Nigeria.
Hitherto, it was conducted on 11th November alongside other Commonwealth nations.
Vice President Shettima led by the Commander Guards Brigade, represented President Tinubu, who is currently in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Tinubu departed Abuja last Saturday to participate in the 2025 edition of Sustainability Week (ADSW 2025) taking place in Abu Dhabi .
His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, invited President Tinubu to attend the Summit, which began Monday, 12 in the emirate to end Friday, January 18, 2025.
The Summit aims to bring together global leaders to accelerate sustainable development and advance socioeconomic progress.
Dignitaries that attended the ceremony included the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Christopher Musa, Service Chiefs and the Inspector general of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator George Akume.
Others were the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who was represented by Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, Chief of Staff to the President, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, Minister of Defence, Abubakar Abubakar Badaru as well as members of the diplomatic corps among others are attending the event.
Vice President Shettima released white pigeons in commemoration of this year’s event.