The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has approved the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) as a beneficiary institution, with annual allocations expected to begin in 2027.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, disclosed this during a visit by DICON’s Director-General, Major General Babatunde Alaya, and his delegation to the Fund in Abuja.
Echono said the approval was granted by TETFund’s Board of Trustees at its meeting the previous week.
“Effectively, they are now members of the TETFund family, and from 2027, they will begin to receive annual allocations from TETFund,” he said.
He explained that DICON would qualify for intervention programmes covering infrastructure, information and communication technology, staff development, research and innovation.
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Echono advised the institution to appoint qualified desk officers to coordinate applications, prepare proposals, monitor projects and ensure compliance with the Fund’s guidelines.
He highlighted the importance of DICON’s technical programmes, particularly Welding and Fabrication Technology and Mechatronics Engineering Technology, noting that Nigeria needed to strengthen its technical workforce to reduce dependence on foreign expertise and improve local manufacturing capacity.
He also encouraged DICON to participate in TETFair, the Fund’s national exhibition of research, innovation and manufacturing, scheduled for November.
Echono expressed TETFund’s readiness to collaborate with DICON on research and innovation, particularly in defence and security.
He stated that the institution could nominate a qualified researcher to participate in the Fund’s national research grant and monitoring committee, which covers several thematic areas, including military and defence.
Earlier, Major Gen. Alaya said the visit was intended to brief TETFund on DICON’s progress and seek guidance on meeting the institution’s take-off requirements.
He explained that DICON Institute of Technology was established to develop the engineering and technical workforce needed to support Nigeria’s defence manufacturing industry and broader industrial development.
Alaya said the institution had been classified as a federal polytechnic, with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), approving six National Diploma programmes: Welding and Fabrication Technology, Foundry Technology, Computer Science, Science Laboratory Technology, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, and Mechatronics Engineering Technology.
According to him, admissions were open across the six programmes, with an approved capacity of about 960 students.
He said the institute had classrooms, male and female hostels, laboratories and a library but required additional facilities and specialised equipment to deliver effective practical training.
Alaya identified modern welding simulators, computing and networking facilities, and specialised mechatronics laboratories as immediate priorities.
He said the management would develop a phased institutional development plan with clear costs, timelines and measurable educational outcomes.
Alaya also sought guidance on addressing the institute’s early-stage development needs, including the possible involvement of the Federal Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities.
He assured TETFund that the institute would prioritise essential requirements, maintain accountability and properly manage facilities and equipment provided.
He said the ultimate goal was to produce technically competent graduates who could contribute to Nigeria’s industrial and defence manufacturing capacity.
