…says institute gateway to future defence industrialisation
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle, on Wednesday inaugurated the DICON Institute of Technology in Kaduna, describing the institution as a gateway to the future industrialisation of Nigeria’s defence sector.
Matawalle said the institute was established as part of the federal government’s deliberate efforts to achieve self-reliance in defence production and develop a robust military-industrial complex in the country.
He said the institute would provide the technical expertise required to design, develop and sustain platforms and systems critical to national security.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the minister noted that Nigeria had for decades relied heavily on foreign sources for critical defence capabilities, with significant consequences for the country’s security and industrial development.
He said the establishment of the institute represented a major step towards reversing the trend and strengthening Nigeria’s indigenous defence industrial base.
Matawalle commended the leadership of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), under its Director-General, Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Alaya, for bringing the project to fruition.
He also praised the DICON Board, management and staff for their commitment and sacrifices towards repositioning the corporation as the bedrock of Nigeria’s military-industrial complex.
According to him, the institute would serve as a vehicle for driving innovation and technological development in both the defence and civil manufacturing sectors.
“To the management and academic staff of the DICON Institute of Technology, I charge you to strive to make this institution a centre of excellence.
“I further urge you to partner with industry and academia to drive innovation and let this institution become a hub where ideas are transformed into products and technologies that will serve the best interests of our nation,” he said.
The minister assured DICON and the institute of the federal government’s continued support in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said the government would continue to provide the necessary support, enabling environment, policy direction and resources required to enable DICON and the institute to fulfil their respective mandates.
Earlier, Alaya said the inauguration marked the culmination of a vision aimed not only at producing defence equipment but also at developing the human capacity required to power Nigeria’s military-industrial complex.
He said the institute was established to address critical gaps in innovation, research and development, as well as defence production.
The DICON Director-General stressed that sustainable industrialisation could only be achieved through the development of indigenous human capital capable of operating advanced machinery and driving technological advancement.
Alaya said the approval for DICON to co-run the institute with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), as well as its listing by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), represented a significant milestone.
He said the development had established a formal academic pathway into Nigeria’s defence industry and would help create a new generation of skilled professionals capable of contr
ibuting to the country’s defence manufacturing ambitions.
