By Cross Udo, Abuja
Vice President Kashim Shettima yesterday represented President Bola Tinubu as a 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, and various Internal Security Operations.
January 15 was chosen as the date for the Armed Forces Remembrance Day in Nigeria in commemoration of the end of the Nigerian civil war.
Hitherto, it was conducted on November 11 alongside other Commonwealth nations.
Shettima, led by the Commander Guards Brigade, represented President Tinubu, who is in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Tinubu left Abuja last Saturday to attend the 2025 edition of Sustainability Week (ADSW 2025) 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, and to end Friday, January 18.
The Summit aims to unite 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 attending the event were the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, who was represented by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and members of the diplomatic corps.
Shettima released white pigeons in commemoration of this year’s event.
