At the 2025 Armed Forces Remembrance Day ceremonies held in Enugu State’s capital on the 15th of January, 2025, Governor Dr. Peter Mbah paid a heartfelt tribute to the Nigerian Armed Forces, extolling their valor and sacrifices.
Mbah emphasized the nation’s eternal gratitude for their service, which has ensured peace and security in the state and beyond.
“Our debt of gratitude to you is eternal not just one felt for a day,” Mbah declared during his address. “For us, this debt of gratitude is not mere lip service. It is a debt we are obligated to repay, because yours have been a career of lifelong service to the nation.”
He reflected on the sacrifices made by the Armed Forces, noting, “Yours have been a career dedicated to keeping us safe sometimes at the risk of your lives. The cenotaphs across the country are stark reminders of the price that our armed forces personnel have been paying, from colonial times to the present day.”
Governor Mbah further highlighted their global contributions, saying, “From the jungles of Burma and Congo to the arid fields of South Sudan, and the war-torn streets of Liberia and Sierra Leone, our armed forces have always been an embodiment of valour. Their participation in numerous United Nations missions exemplifies their readiness to defend peace and humanity.”
The governor called for unwavering material and emotional support for the families of fallen heroes and active service members.
“The widows and children of our ex-servicemen are compelling reminders of the sacrifices of our fallen heroes. Their lifetime of sacrifice and duty to the country has earned the families they left behind a right to our collective empathy. That is what gratitude looks like,” he affirmed.
Governor Mbah reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the Armed Forces, noting, “On this very somber day of remembrance, I reaffirm my administration’s continued support to the Armed Forces the pride of our nation, bastion of unity, and potent symbol of our sovereignty.”
The ceremony also featured a poignant parade, the laying of wreaths to honor the nation’s fallen heroes, and the symbolic release of pigeons to signify lasting peace.
Notable attendees included senior government officials, military personnel, and traditional leaders. Among them were the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu; Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu; Igwe Fideli Nwatu; Igwe Greg Ugwu; and the outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Maj. Gen. Hassan Dada. Other key military figures included Brig. Gen. Stephen Dogo, Garrison Commander, 82 Division; Air Vice Marshal Umar Abubakar, Air Officer Commanding (AOC), Ground Training Command, Enugu; Commodore A.O. Odejobi, Commander of Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Madueke, Adani; and CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, Commissioner of Police, Enugu State.
Representatives of various security agencies also attended, including Abisong Eteng, Deputy Director of Operations for the Department of State Services; Willy Etim Elijah, State Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps; Nicholas Obiako, Controller of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Enugu State; and Franklin Agbakoba Onyekwelu, Enugu Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission.
Barr. Emeka Igweshi, Chairman of the Nigerian Legion in Enugu State, added that supporting the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families should not rest solely on the government but should involve all citizens.