Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Sen. Adeleke Mamora says the capacity of a nation's military is enhanced mainly by factors such as its level of human, material and technological development.
The minister said this on Tuesday 22 November 2022 while delivering a graduation lecture titled, “Harnessing Local Capacity for Improved Defence Production” for participants of Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) Course 6/2022.
The Lecture, which is the sixth edition to be organized by the College had in attendance the Chief of Defence Staff , Service Chiefs, College Commandants, Directors, and Course 6/2022 participants.
The Minister noted that in the contemporary time, as a result of the development in industrialization, the Nigerian military has specialized in the production of weapons of all types because of the development in the geo-strategic study of the world.
The minister, therefore said the military must strengthen R&D programmes with emphasis on demand-driven and need-based outcomes.
This, according to him, will frog-jump commercialisation of R&D breakthroughs and engender irreversible indigenous industrial development.
He also advocated the promotion of strategic alliances among critical stakeholders in the science, technology and innovation ecosystem, including research institutes, industries and businesses.
The minister said the alliance should be in such a manner that government through regulatory establishments would ensure conformity to standards, certification and accreditation of products and services.
Mamora also called for full implementation of the Presidential declaration of annual funding of Research and Innovation with 0.5 per cent of GDP and reactivation of the National Research and Innovation Fund.
The minister said if Nigeria had access to affordable and effective military equipment, decisive advantage would be achieved through superior deployment in tackling the current security threats.
Mamora commended the efforts and progress being made at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), urging them to continue to leverage on all existing partnerships to achieve more.
He said there will be great partnership between its ministry and the military in terms of innovation and technology to support the ongoing military operations in the country.
"Modern nations establish military institutions that defend their territorial integrity from external aggression, terrorists’ and insurgents’ activities, he said"
While Delivering The Lecture, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Senator Adeleke Mamora, therefore assured that the Ministry will Continue to Collaborate with the Military in Advancing Technology in Areas of Defence.
In his word, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Farouk Yahaya vowed to sustain Crack down on Terror Groups in the country.
General Yahaya added that the military and other security agencies have and will continued to remain committed to fight all forms of criminality until sustainable peace is achieved in our dear country.
He said various kinetic operations were carried out to deny terrorists, armed bandits and other criminal elements freedom of action as well as frustrate movement of arms and other illegal items in all theatres of operations leading to the depletion of their fighting force.
He thanked the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation for deli his lecture noting that, the collaboration between the ministry and military will reposition Army to defeat adversaries threatening the nation’s security.
The Commandant Army War College Nigeria, Major General Bamidele Alabi said that the College is more Committed to training Senior Operational Level Officers in Tackling the Nation's Security Threat.
General Alabi commended the Course 6/2022 participants for taking part in all the 30 Weeks Course which was designed to effectively equip the Personnel on Modern Warfare for Improved Security.
