To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), the Ministry of Defence in Nigeria is putting together a noteworthy event. Approximately 3,000 participants from regional and global military industries in Africa will be present at the event, which is scheduled to take place in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. Before the ceremony, Bello Matawalle, the minister of state for defence, is anticipated to speak to the media. The anniversary will showcase DICON’s accomplishments, innovations, and the value of stakeholder engagement, according to a statement from Henshaw Ogubike, the Ministry of Defence’s Director of Information and Public Relations.
The conference, with the theme “Future Frontiers in Africa’s Defence Technology,” will concentrate on potential investments, joint ventures, and advancements in the continent’s defence industry. Professional speakers from both inside and outside of Africa will present at the conference. The President of the Senate is anticipated to attend the Gala Night on August 14, 2024, while Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu will serve as the Special Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony. Various stakeholders in the industry, including government officials, military personnel, and commercial exhibitors, have been invited by the Ministry to take part in the event.
President Bola Tinubu is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour.
In order to provide supplies and equipment for the Nigerian Armed Forces, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) was founded as a military enterprise in 1964. Throughout the years, DICON has been a vital component of Nigeria’s defence industry, producing ammunition, small guns, and other military hardware. DICON was first established with support from the German government with the main objective of minimizing Nigeria’s reliance on foreign arms suppliers by enabling the country to produce its own.
Since then, the organization has grown its operations to include collaborations with other foreign firms, greatly advancing Nigeria’s military prowess and infrastructure. Over several days, the African Defence Industries Conference will be the centrepiece of DICON’s 60th anniversary celebration. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu is expected to be the Special Guest of Honour during the conference’s opening ceremony on August 14, 2024. Later that same day, there will be a cocktail/gala night that the Senate President will attend.
Alliances have been formed with foreign industries.
A variety of workshops covering all facets of the military industry, including industrial relationships, technological developments, and Investment prospects, will be held during the event. In Nigeria’s defence industry, DICON has accomplished a number of significant firsts during its 60-year existence. Producing the “Nigerian FAL,” the Nigerian military’s long-serving adaptation of the FN FAL rifle, is one of its noteworthy achievements. In order to improve its production capacities and facilitate Technology transfer, DICON has also formed alliances with foreign support industries.
Armoured vehicles, artillery, and other cutting-edge military hardware have been among the company’s latest product offerings, and it has also concentrated on updating its production facilities. Facilitating cooperation between African countries and foreign players, the African Defence Industries Conference is anticipated to have a major influence on the industry on the continent. In addition to examining potential industrial alliances and investments that could strengthen the region’s protection capabilities, the conference will offer a forum for talks on the future of technology in Africa.
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By assembling important figures from the military sector, the conference may result in new partnerships, agreements for the transfer of knowledge, and enhanced production capacity throughout the continent. The conference is very important, as Minister of State for Defence Bello Matawalle said, “DICON’s 60th anniversary is not just a celebration of our past achievements, but a look forward to the future of defence technology in Africa.” This occasion will pave the way for future collaborations and breakthroughs that will advance the defence sector.”