From Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
The Federal Government on Wednesday commissioned the DICON Institute of Technology in Kaduna as part of a deliberate push to achieve self-reliance in defence production and build a robust military-industrial complex for Nigeria.
Commissioning the institute, Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Muhammad Bello Matawalle, described it as a “legacy project” conceived to equip Nigeria with the technical expertise needed to design, develop, and sustain platforms and systems that guarantee national security.
He lamented that for too long the country had “completely relied on foreign sources for critical defence capability” with attendant consequences, noting that the new institute represents a concrete step to change that narrative.
Dr. Matawalle commended the leadership of DICON under the Director-General, Major General Babatunde Ibrahim Alaya, for the commitment that made the project a reality. He also thanked the board, management, and staff for their sacrifices, and charged the academic staff to make the institute a centre of excellence by partnering with industry and academia to turn ideas into products that serve national interest.
The Minister assured that in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Government will continue to provide the necessary support, enabling environment, policy direction, and resources for DICON and the institute to deliver on their mandate. He expressed confidence that the institute will drive innovation for both defence-related and civil manufacturing sectors.
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With the commissioning, the government said the institute will serve as a hub for research, skills development, and indigenous technology transfer aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s defence industrial base and reducing import dependence.
Also speaking, the Director General of DICON, Major General BI Alaya, said the institute was conceived as a centre of excellence where technical education, applied research, and industrial collaboration will converge to produce skilled professionals for the defence manufacturing sector.
Gen. Alaya noted that as DICON expands its mandate and scales up local production capacity, investment in education and innovation has become essential for sustainable growth. Beyond supporting DICON’s core mission, he said the institute will contribute to national technological advancement, industrial competitiveness, and economic development.
The DG credited the establishment of the institute to the DICON Act 2023 signed by President Tinubu, and acknowledged the support of the Minister of Defence, Minister of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, the Executive Secretary of NBTE, and other partners.
He called on all stakeholders to join in building a vibrant ecosystem of education, research, and innovation that will strengthen Nigeria’s technological capabilities, adding that the institute is critical to advancing the country’s vision of defence industrialisation and reducing reliance on imported defence technologies.