Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defense, Bello Matawalle, has commissioned the DICON Institute of Technology in Kakuri, Kaduna State, marking the launch of the country’s first statutory tertiary institution dedicated to defense technology and manufacturing.
Speaking at the launch on Wednesday, 29 July 2026, Matawalle stated that national security relies heavily on developing domestic expertise, research, and technological capacity alongside modern hardware.
“This institute will nurture the talents and innovation required to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial and technological resilience,” Matawalle said, calling on academic, governmental, and private partners to support the project.
During his visit, the minister also inaugurated a new solar power system at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) headquarters in Kaduna.
Building indigenous capacity
The Director General of DICON, Major General Babatunde Ibrahim Alaya, credited the passage of the DICON Act 2023 for paving the way for the new institute.
Major General Alaya explained that the facility aims to train globally competitive engineers and technologists through specialized defense programs and modern laboratory infrastructure.
Established under an Act of Parliament in 1964, DICON serves as Nigeria’s primary state-owned military manufacturing enterprise, supplying equipment and hardware to the armed forces.
The commissioning was attended by top defence officials, including the Chief of Defense Staff, General O.O. Oluyede, alongside representatives of the Kaduna State governor, service chiefs, and traditional leaders.
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