By Haliru Aliyu
The Honourable Minister of State for Defence H.E. Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle MON has emerged as a key driver of Nigeria’s defence reforms, leveraging his quiet and yet steadfast approach to yield significant results. Under his leadership, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has undergone a transformative journey, positioning Nigeria as a beacon of stability in a tumultuous region.
Under his leadership, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) has undergone a significant transformation. He played a crucial role in the enactment of the new DICON Act 2023, aimed at boosting local production of defence equipment and reducing reliance on foreign imports and make defence equipments autochthonous.
Government has demonstrated the zeal and commitment to reposition DICON to be self reliant under the able leadership of Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle through various interventions:
- Reform and Restructuring: Spearheaded DICON’s reform and restructuring, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness.
- New DICON Act 2023: Played a crucial role in enacting the new DICON Act, boosting local production of defence equipment and reducing reliance on foreign imports.
- Africa Defence Industries Conference (ADIC): Championed the launch of ADIC, a premier platform for defence industry stakeholders to collaborate and drive innovation.
- Defence Innovation Challenge: Introduced the Defence Innovation Challenge, encouraging innovators and startups to develop cutting-edge solutions for national and regional security.
- Visionary Leadership: Set DICON on a path to becoming a self-sustaining defence industrial complex, capable of meeting Nigeria’s defence needs and contributing to regional security.
Matawalle’s passion for indigenous companies’ growth in defence equipment production has driven DICON’s transformation. His commitment to innovation, collaboration, and strategic partnerships has positioned DICON for success in the next 60 years and beyond.
Highlighting the role of Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria ( DICON) which he has helped in transforming from a bill to an Act, one cannot but agree that Matawalle’s passion and commitment to the success of DICON story stem from his passion for the growth of indigenous companies in the production of defence equipment in Nigeria.
As the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) celebrates its 60th anniversary, Dr. Matawalle has emerged as a key driver of its transformation. Under his leadership, DICON is undergoing a significant repositioning, poised to become a leading defence industrial complex in Africa.
Addressing the Press at DICON @60th alongside
the launch of the Maiden Africa Defence Industries Conference (ADIC), the
Minister highlighted DICON’s significant contributions to Nigeria’s defence sector and commended the Corporation for enhancing national security. He emphasized DICON’s importance in advancing Nigeria’s self-reliance in defence production and technology, reducing reliance on foreign imports.
Matawalle emphasized that DICON will be at the forefront of research and development to meet the technological needs of the security sector. This initiative will elevate the industry to the level of its peers, such as ARDEC in the United States and Diehl Defence in Germany. The broader implications for the economy are significant, as Nigeria could soon begin to export the technological products developed by DICON.
DICON potential must be harnessed to the fullest. With Dr. Matawalle at the driver’s seat at this strategic industry, the sky is the limit in reaching its mission and vision. To maximize the value of this potential, the Honourable Minister must continue to provide unwavering support to the industry. The current focus on production capacity, partnerships, and research and development must be sustained to achieve meaningful impact.
Haliru Aliyu is a Public Perception Analyst