Jonathan, Musa, Service Chiefs Advocate Industrialisation as Pillar of Africa’s Security, Growth

By Olayemi Esan,

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), have called for renewed investment in industrial capacity, technology, education and human capital as critical foundations for sustainable economic growth, national security and regional stability in Africa.

The two leaders spoke on Monday at the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, during the Course 34 Graduation Lecture held at the Abacha Hall Auditorium.

The lecture, themed “Harnessing Industrial Capacity for Inclusive Growth and Regional Stability in Africa,” brought together senior military officers, members of the diplomatic corps, security and intelligence chiefs, strategic leaders and graduating participants of Course 34.

Delivering the keynote lecture, Jonathan argued that Africa’s long-term security could not be separated from its capacity to build productive economies, create wealth and transform its vast natural and human resources into high-value goods and services.

He said industrialisation was more than the establishment of factories, describing it as a major instrument for wealth creation, poverty reduction and social stability.

“Industrialisation is beyond industrialisation itself; it is about wealth creation,” the former president said, stressing that societies must develop the capacity to convert the resources available in their environment into economic value.

Jonathan said Africa possessed enormous natural resources but continued to lag behind other regions in value addition and industrial productivity, despite ranking among the world’s most resource-endowed continents.

He challenged the continent’s emerging leaders to reverse the trajectory by investing deliberately in education, technology, innovation and institutions capable of producing globally competitive human capital.

Drawing lessons from Singapore, Jonathan said the transformation of the island nation demonstrated the importance of harnessing human intellect and investing strategically in education and capacity development.

According to him, nations without significant natural resources could still achieve remarkable economic progress by developing the intellectual capacity of their people.

“One of the greatest national resources we have is the human brain, and that is critical,” Jonathan said.

He noted that Africa must rethink its educational systems to focus more deliberately on producing innovators, scientists, technologists and entrepreneurs capable of driving industrial transformation.

The former president also highlighted the relationship between industrial development and peace, explaining that inclusive growth could strengthen social cohesion, create productive employment and reduce some of the structural conditions that fuel instability and conflict.

He defined industrial capacity as the ability of a country or region to transform natural, human and technological resources into high-value goods and services through competitive industrial processes.

This, he said, required productive infrastructure, reliable energy systems, technological capability, skilled manpower, efficient logistics and effective institutions.

Jonathan further urged African leaders to take greater responsibility for driving economic transformation and regional cooperation, particularly as the continent seeks to maximise opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Speaking as Special Guest of Honour, the Minister of Defence, General Musa, described industrial capacity as no longer merely an economic aspiration but a strategic imperative for national resilience and security.

He said a resilient industrial base strengthened economic competitiveness, generated productive employment and reduced strategic vulnerabilities.

Musa stressed that countries that depended excessively on foreign sources for critical infrastructure, technology and defence requirements could face serious strategic challenges during periods of crisis.

“A resilient industrial base strengthens economic competitiveness, creates productive employment, enhances national resilience and contributes significantly to regional peace and security,” he said.

The minister said lasting peace could not be sustained without inclusive growth, just as sustainable development could not flourish in an environment of insecurity.

He therefore called for sustained investment in infrastructure, technology, human capital and regional cooperation.

Musa also urged African countries to deepen collaboration through continental and regional institutions, noting that many of the continent’s security challenges transcended national boundaries.

He said greater cooperation among African nations remained essential to defeating threats to peace and stability.

The Defence Minister particularly expressed optimism about increased participation of African countries in the National Defence College, noting that shared professional training could strengthen understanding and cooperation among future leaders of the continent.

He commended the graduating participants of Course 34 and urged them to prepare for greater responsibilities in strategic leadership, governance and national security.

Musa, however, cautioned against losing sight of the military’s core responsibility of defending the nation and winning wars.

According to him, professional military education must complement, rather than overshadow, the development of capable commanders with the confidence and competence to lead troops in combat.

“We are not in the military to produce professors. We are here to bring commanders that will deal with any enemy of the state,” he said.

He also warned against the dangers of ethnicity, religion and other divisions, calling on Nigerians to promote unity and reject narratives capable of undermining national cohesion.

Earlier, the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Abdullahi Ahmed, said the graduation lecture represented the intellectual climax of the strategic-level education and professional development programme for Course 34 participants.

He described industrial capacity as a strategic enabler of economic resilience, technological advancement, defence preparedness and sustainable development.

According to the Commandant, strong industrial systems not only promote inclusive growth but also enhance national resilience, reduce strategic vulnerabilities and contribute to lasting regional stability.

Ahmed said the College remained committed to producing strategic leaders capable of addressing contemporary national, regional and global security challenges through integrated and whole-of-government approaches.

He urged the graduating participants to apply the knowledge acquired during their training with dignity, integrity, professionalism and innovation as they return to their respective services, ministries, departments, agencies and countries.

The Commandant also encouraged them to sustain collaboration across institutions and partner nations, noting that contemporary security challenges required collective responses.

In his vote of thanks, the Deputy Commandant, Major General Ken Emeka Chigbu, said the insights shared during the Course 34 Graduation Lecture provided important perspectives for Africa’s future leaders.

The lecture, he said, reinforced the need for African nations to pursue economic transformation as a central component of their long-term security and stability strategies.

The Course 34 Graduation Lecture is part of the activities marking the conclusion of the participants’ strategic-level professional military education at the National Defence College, Nigeria’s foremost institution for strategic leadership and national security studies.

As the graduating participants prepare to return to their various organisations and countries, the central message from the lecture remained visible: Africa’s future security will depend not only on the strength of its armed forces, but also on the strength of its industries, institutions, technology, human capital and capacity to create inclusive prosperity.