It is imperative that we all work together; government, industry, academia, and the private sector, to realize the ambitious goals set out in the soon-to-be-launched Vision and Strategy Road Map 2030.
The Minister of State Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle made the call today at the 60th Anniversary of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and the Maiden Africa Defence Industries Conference.
The Inaugural Africa Defence Industries Conference alongside the 60th Anniversary Celebrations of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) which took place at the Shehu Musa Yar`Adua Centre, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with the theme: “DICON @60: Future Frontiers in Africa’s Defence Technology”.
The Minister affirmed that the DICON at 60 celebration also serves as the platform for the launch of DICON's Vision and Strategy Road Map 2030.
He noted that this strategic plan is aligned with the President's "Renewed Hope Agenda" and is designed to position DICON as a leader in defence innovation, not just in Nigeria but across the African continent.
Dr Matawalle also added that the roadmap outlines clear objectives for strengthening our national security, promoting sustainable development, and driving economic diversification through defence sector industrialization, digitization, and innovation.
Dr Matawalle who was excited about the launch of the Maiden Africa Defence Industries Conference, stressed that this is a groundbreaking initiative that will bring together defence experts, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators from across Africa and beyond.
"This conference is a testament to our commitment to fostering collaboration and exploring new frontiers in defence technology.
"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.'
"Today, the challenges we face are complex, but with unity, determination, and innovation, we can overcome them and build a stronger, more self-reliant defence sector that will be a source of pride for Nigeria and a model for other nations." he said
SpyeTV News reports that the 2-day event, from 14th-15th August 2024 is designed to be the largest gathering of defence industry stakeholders in Nigeria and Africa, attracting over 3,000 local and international participants, from over 30 countries. The event focused on defence exhibitions, investment opportunities, industrial partnerships, and future developments in the African Defence Industries.