The Nigerian Army has announced plans to deepen its strategic collaboration with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to advance indigenous military hardware production, armament technology, drone warfare and other emerging defence capabilities in Nigeria.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, disclosed this on Tuesday, 26 May 2026, while receiving the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sunday Echono, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by Colonel Appolonia Anele, Acting Director Army Public Relations, the COAS emphasized the need for sustained investment in human capital development, military research and technological innovation as part of efforts to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on foreign military imports.
Lieutenant General Shaibu commended TETFund for its continued infrastructural and academic support to military institutions, particularly the Nigerian Army University, Biu (NAUB) and the Nigerian Army College of Management Science (NACMS), Makurdi.
He noted that both institutions remain critical to producing highly skilled manpower capable of meeting the operational and administrative needs of the Nigerian Army.
The Army Chief further revealed that the Nigerian Army intends to engage TETFund in sponsoring specialized training programmes for officers in armament technology, drone warfare, robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related defence technologies.
He explained that the initiative is aimed at equipping the Nigerian Army with the expertise required to dominate the modern battlespace and sustain result-driven military operations.
Speaking on the evolving global security environment, the COAS stressed that contemporary threats require a “whole-of-society approach,” where academic research, technological advancement and military capability are effectively integrated.
He added that developing indigenous expertise in drone and armament technology would provide Nigeria with the intellectual and technical base necessary for local production of military hardware, enhanced self-reliance and long-term operational sustainability.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sunday Echono, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Armed Forces in the areas of advanced research, military intelligence, innovation and emerging technologies.
Echono acknowledged the contributions of the Armed Forces to Nigeria’s education sector through its tri-service institutions and assured that TETFund would continue to support initiatives capable of generating strategic breakthroughs in national security and national development.
