By Ada Nkong
President Bola Tinubu says the Defence industries Corporation of Nigeria DICON has been repositioned for the role of global player in the defence sector.
The President who was represented by the SGF Senator George Akume made the assertion during the 60th anniversary of DICON celebration in Abuja.
Describing the event as a milestone celebration of innovation and resilience,he said the occasion is a testament to the government’s enduring commitment to national security and technological advancemen.
Speaking on the signing of DICON act into law, the President said it marks a new era for DICON positioning it as the arrowhead for Military Industrial Complex.
” The DICON Evolution Strategy and Road Map 2030, based on the DICON Act 2023 that we launch today, aims to bridge performance gaps in our Military Industrial Complex and reposition DICON as a global player, as was long envisaged by our founding fathers”.
In his remarks , the Minister of state for defence Dr Bello Matawalle who highlighted DICON’s contribution to the security architecture of the military in the past 60 years noted that the anniversary celebration is the dawn of a new era.
He said ” 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”
Matawalle expressed delight at the maiden Africa Defence Industries conference which he said will bring together experts in defence experts,industry leaders, innovators and policy nakers from over 30 countries to brainstorm and collaborate towards improving security in Africa
“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 called for cooperation between government , industry, academia and the private sector to work towards the realization of the vision and strategy road map 2030 launched during the event which would help solve the present challenges in the sector .
On his part, the DG DICON Major General Aniedi Edet spoke on DICON’s growth since 1964 saying that despite the challenges in the sector, there is a lot to celebrate
“Over the decades, DICON has evolved significantly, adapting to the dynamic landscapes of military technology and global defence trends. In the early years, our focus was predominantly on the production of small arms and ammunition, meeting the critical needs of our military and other security agencies. However, as the threats facing our nation and region became more complex and contemporary, so too has the interpretation of our mandate. In the 21st century, our projects have become more diverse, encompassing not only military products but also ventures into civilian applications that leverage our technological capabilities”.
He called on everyone to believe in the country’s ability to achieve what it has always wanted in the area of building a self reliant defence sector.
The conference with the theme “Future Frontiers in Africa’s Defence Technology” and anniversary celebration also saw the launch of a book titled ‘Defence Industries corporation of Nigeria: Forging a pathway to indigenous defence production’ which was reviewed by Prof. Badaru Adedeji and the unveiling of a new logo for DICON by the SGF Senator George Akume who also declared the conference open.
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