*Photo: Dr Bello Muhammed Matawalle*
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammed Matawalle has said the future of Nigeria’s defence equipment manufacturing is very bright.
He stated this in Abuja on Wednesday in his opening remarks at the 60th Anniversary of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and the Maiden Africa Defence Industries Conference.
The highly elated Minister said
“Today, we gather not only to celebrate six decades of DICON’s remarkable journey but also to chart a new course for the future of Nigeria’s defence sector and the broader African continent. The establishment of DICON in 1964 was a bold and visionary step towards self-reliance in Nigeria’s defence capabilities, and it has since become a vital pillar of our national security.”
He added that “Over the past 60 years, DICON has made significant contributions to our nation’s defence architecture, providing the Nigerian Armed Forces with essential equipment and supporting the development of our military capabilities. Therefore, we take immense pride in this legacy of resilience and innovation.”
The Minister stressed that “Over the past 60 years, DICON has made significant contributions to our nation’s defence architecture, providing the Nigerian Armed Forces with essential equipment and supporting the development of our military capabilities. Therefore, we take immense pride in this legacy of resilience and innovation.”
He pointed out that “However, as we stand on the threshold of a new era, it is clear that the future holds even greater opportunities for growth and transformation of indigenous production in Nigeria. The recent enactment of the DICON Act 2023 by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic, marks a turning point in the history of our defence sector. This new legal framework empowers DICON to operate with greater autonomy and efficiency, enhancing its ability to meet the evolving defence needs of our nation.
Dr Matawalle said “Today’s celebration also serves as the platform for the launch of DICON’s Vision and Strategy Road Map 2030. This strategic plan is aligned with the President’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” and is designed to position DICON as a leader in defence innovation, not just in Nigeria but across the African continent. The roadmap outlines clear objectives for strengthening our national security, promoting sustainable development, and driving economic diversification through defence sector industrialization, digitization, and innovation.
“I am particularly excited about the launch of the Maiden Africa Defence Industries Conference. This is a groundbreaking initiative that will bring together defence experts, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across Africa and beyond. This conference is a testament to our commitment to fostering collaboration and exploring new frontiers in defence technology.”
He disclosed that “Embedded within the Africa Defence Industries Conference is the Defence Innovation Challenge. The Challenge is an initiative designed to pull Nigeria’s young skilled talents together, stimulate and reward groundbreaking innovations in defence. This challenge, conceptualized by Kryterion Limited in partnership with DICON, will provide a platform for young innovators, startups, and research institutions to present their cutting-edge solutions to enhance national and regional security.”
He said “As we move forward into the future, it is imperative that we all work together; government, industry, academia, and the private sector, to realize the ambitious goals set out in the soon-to-be-launched Vision and Strategy Road Map 2030. Today, the challenges we face are complex, but with unity, determination, and innovation, we can overcome them and build a stronger, more self-reliant defence sector that will be a source of pride for Nigeria and a model for other nations.”
The Minister congratulated the leadership, management and the entire staff of DICON for working dedicatedly to reawaken the mandate of DICON and also express his heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to making the event possible, “especially His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Grand Commander of the Federal Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, for his unwavering support of DICON and the defence sector at large.”
He urged that the conference should be used as an opportunity “to learn, collaborate, and innovate as we pave the way for a brighter and more secure future for Nigeria and Africa.”
