The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has inaugurated the DICON Institute of Technology in Kaduna.
Matawalle said the institute was established as part of deliberate efforts by the federal government to achieve self-reliance in defence production and build a robust military-industrial complex in Nigeria.
He disclosed that the institute will provide the technical expertise required to design, develop and sustain platforms and systems critical to national security.
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The Minister, who spoke at the inauguration ceremony, explained that Nigeria had for decades relied heavily on foreign sources for critical defence capabilities, with attendant consequences.
According to him, the establishment of the institute represented a significant step towards changing the narrative and strengthening the country’s indigenous defence industrial base.
Matawalle commended the leadership of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON under its Director General, Major General Babatunde Alaya, for making the project a reality.
“The institute will serve as a vehicle for driving innovation needed for the future development of defence-related and civil manufacturing sectors in Nigeria.
“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 stressed.
The Minister assured stakeholders of the government’s continued support through the provision of an enabling environment, policy direction and resources required for DICON and the institute to fulfil their mandates.
Earlier, Alaya said the inauguration marked the culmination of a vision to build not only defence equipment but also the human capacity required to power Nigeria’s military-industrial complex.
“The institute was conceived to address critical gaps in innovation, research and development, as well as production,” he explained.
The DICON Director General mentioned that sustainable industrialisation could only be achieved through the development of indigenous human capital capable of working behind the machines and driving technological advancement.
He further stated that the institute will focus on training engineers, technologists, technicians and other professionals in defence-related disciplines.
“The approval for DICON to co-run the institute with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), alongside its listing by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), represents a significant milestone,” Alaya said.
He said the development has established a formal academic pathway into Nigeria’s defence industry.
The DICON boss said the institute would be fully integrated into the corporation’s drive to become the nucleus of Nigeria’s defence industries.
He added that adequate funding, partnerships and linkages with DICON factories and those of its joint-venture partners will be established to ensure that research and innovation translate into tangible products and solutions.
