By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Federal Government has inaugurated the DICON Institute of Technology in Kaduna, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s drive to strengthen indigenous defence production and reduce reliance on foreign military technologies.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Muhammad Bello Matawalle, described the institute as a landmark investment designed to build the technical capacity required to develop, maintain, and sustain Nigeria’s defence systems while advancing the country’s military-industrial capabilities.
According to the minister, the establishment of the institute reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to ending decades of dependence on imported defence technologies by cultivating a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation in the sector.
He noted that the institute would play a strategic role in producing the expertise needed to support Nigeria’s long-term defence objectives and strengthen national security through homegrown solutions.
Dr. Matawalle commended the Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General Babatunde Ibrahim Alaya, alongside the corporation’s board, management, and staff for their dedication in bringing the project to fruition.
He urged the institute’s academic community to pursue excellence through research, innovation, and strategic collaboration with industries and academic institutions, stressing that such partnerships would accelerate the development of technologies that address national defence and industrial needs.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the institute in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, assuring that the necessary policies, funding, and enabling environment would be provided to ensure it fulfils its mandate.
He expressed confidence that the institution would become a catalyst for technological innovation, benefiting both Nigeria’s defence sector and the broader manufacturing industry.
The Federal Government said the institute would serve as a centre for research, technical training, and indigenous technology development, while promoting local content in defence manufacturing and reducing the nation’s dependence on imported military equipment.
In his remarks, the Director-General of DICON, Major General Babatunde Ibrahim Alaya, described the institute as a centre of excellence established to integrate technical education, applied research, and industry partnerships in producing highly skilled professionals for Nigeria’s defence manufacturing sector.
He said the expansion of DICON’s responsibilities and the growing emphasis on local defence production made investment in education, research, and innovation imperative for sustainable growth.
According to him, the institute will not only strengthen DICON’s operational capacity but also contribute to national technological advancement, industrial competitiveness, and economic development.
Major General Alaya attributed the establishment of the institute to the implementation of the DICON Act 2023, signed into law by President Tinubu, which expanded the corporation’s mandate to drive Nigeria’s defence industrialisation agenda.
He appreciated the support of the Minister of Defence, the Minister of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), and other critical stakeholders whose contributions made the project possible.
The DICON boss called for sustained collaboration among government, academia, industry, and development partners to build a thriving ecosystem of education, research, and innovation capable of accelerating Nigeria’s technological advancement and achieving greater self-reliance in defence production.
