Matawalle Commissions DICON Institute of Technology in Kaduna
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has commissioned the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) Institute of Technology in Kaduna, describing the institution as a major milestone in Nigeria’s drive to strengthen indigenous defence production through education, innovation and technological advancement.
Matawalle also inaugurated a solar power system at the headquarters of DICON in Kakuri, Kaduna State, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to building a self-reliant and globally competitive defence industry.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, the minister said the establishment of the institute reflects the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to developing local capacity through education, research and innovation to meet the country’s evolving security and defence needs.
He noted that in an increasingly complex security environment, national defence depends not only on sophisticated military hardware but also on the expertise, technical knowledge and innovative capacity of its workforce.
According to him, the DICON Institute of Technology will serve as a strategic platform for nurturing the next generation of engineers, technologists and innovators needed to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial resilience and defence manufacturing capability.
Describing the inauguration as a landmark achievement, Matawalle called on government institutions, the private sector, academia and development partners to support the institute in fulfilling its mandate.
“This institute will nurture the talents and innovation required to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial and technological resilience,” he said, adding that collective support would help build the skilled workforce required to secure the nation’s future.
The minister commended the leadership of DICON, led by its Director-General, Major General Babatunde Ibrahim Alaya, for what he described as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s quest for defence industrialisation and technological self-sufficiency.
The DICON Institute of Technology is the country’s first statutory tertiary institution dedicated to training the skilled manpower required to support a modern, sustainable and self-reliant defence industry.
In his remarks, the Director-General of DICON, Major General Alaya, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the DICON Act 2023 into law, describing the legislation as a critical foundation for transforming Nigeria’s defence manufacturing sector.
He also thanked the Minister of Defence, the Minister of State for Defence, the Chief of Defence Staff, the National Board for Technical Education and DICON’s partners for their support in establishing the institute.
According to Alaya, the institute is designed to produce globally competitive engineers, technologists and innovators equipped with the knowledge, technical skills and values required to advance Nigeria’s defence industry and contribute meaningfully to national development.
He said the institution would leverage defence-oriented academic programmes, modern laboratories and strategic partnerships to prepare graduates for the demands of an increasingly competitive global technology environment.
Established under the Defence Industries Corporation Act of 1964, DICON has remained Nigeria’s premier defence manufacturing institution, supplying equipment and military hardware to the Armed Forces for more than six decades.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff, General O.O. Oluyede; representatives of the Kaduna State Government, the Service Chiefs and the Inspector-General of Police; the representative of the Emir of Zazzau; as well as senior military officers, government officials and traditional rulers.
By TimesNG