Nigeria’s drive to reduce dependence on foreign military technology has received a boost with the inauguration of the DICON Institute of Technology in Kaduna.
The Federal Government says the institute will help develop the skilled workforce needed to strengthen indigenous defence production through research, innovation and local manufacturing.
With approval from the National Board for Technical Education and listing by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, the DICON Institute of Technology is set to commence specialised academic programmes tailored to Nigeria’s defence industry.
The institute will train engineers, technologists and technicians in defence-related disciplines while serving as a centre for research, innovation and product development, linking academic learning directly with DICON’s production facilities and industry partners.
Director-General of DICON, Major General Babatunde Ayala, said sustainable defence industrialisation depends on developing the indigenous manpower required to design, produce and maintain military hardware locally.
Inaugurating the institute, Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle described it as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s quest for defence self-reliance.
He commended DICON’s leadership for advancing reforms in the nation’s military-industrial complex and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the institute through policy, funding and strategic partnerships to position it as a centre of excellence in defence technology and innovation.
Beyond producing skilled manpower, the DICON Institute of Technology is expected to accelerate indigenous research, innovation and the local production of defence equipment.
Authorities say the initiative will help reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported military hardware and foreign technical expertise while strengthening local content, boosting defence manufacturing and enhancing national security.
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Editor: Ada Ononye
