Defence Ministry Hosts National Symposium To Commemorate 2026 Armed Force Celebration and Remembrance Day 2026

Defence Ministry Hosts National Symposium To Commemorate 2026 Armed Force Celebration and Remembrance Day 2026

On Monday, 12 January 2026, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Idi Abbas (Admiralty Medal), joined other Service Chiefs at a high-level National Symposium and Lecture Series held at the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, as part of activities marking the 2026 Armed Forces Celebration and Remembrance Day.

The event, themed “Securing Nigeria’s Future: The Armed Forces and National Development,” served as a strategic platform for robust discourse on the evolving role of the military within Nigeria’s security framework and broader socio-economic development agenda.

The symposium was attended by the top hierarchy of Nigeria’s defence and security establishment, including the Special Guest of Honour, the Honourable Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd) OFR. Other dignitaries present were the Chief of Defence Staff, General OO Oluyede; the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, Mr Richard Pheelangwa; the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, as well as senior officials from various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

Proceedings commenced with a welcome address by Mr Richard Pheelangwa, followed by a keynote address delivered by the Honourable Minister of Defence. In his remarks, General Musa emphasized the inseparable link between national security and sustainable development, while reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to the modernisation of the Armed Forces to effectively address contemporary security challenges.

The intellectual highlights of the symposium included:

a. Historical Perspective: A video documentary chronicling the evolution of the Nigerian Armed Forces from 1863 to the present.

b. Visual Exhibition: An electronic photo exhibition showcasing key military milestones and Nigeria’s peacekeeping efforts.

c. Technical Session: A lead paper presentation on the symposium’s theme by former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General TY Buratai (Rtd), followed by a robust panel discussion and interactive question-and-answer session involving security experts and stakeholders.

The symposium reinforced the critical role of the Armed Forces in national development and underscored the importance of sustained collaboration among stakeholders in securing Nigeria’s future.