Linus Aleke in Abuja
The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), has called on Nigerian innovators, researchers and start-ups to channel their expertise towards developing indigenous solutions to the country’s evolving security challenges, stressing that technology and innovation must become central pillars of Nigeria’s defence architecture.
Speaking at the Omniverse Africa 3.0 Summit in Lagos, Musa said addressing contemporary security threats required far more than conventional military capabilities, noting that national security in the 21st century must be underpinned by technological advancement, industrial capacity and strategic innovation.
Delivering the keynote address on the theme, “The 70/30 Rule: Why Nigeria’s Security and Innovation Agendas are the Same National Project,” the minister underscored the urgent need for Nigeria to transition from being primarily a consumer of defence technologies to becoming a producer of homegrown solutions.
“The future requires us to complement courage with technology, foresight, industrial capability, and innovation,” he stated, adding: “We must secure the nation today, but we must also build the capabilities that will secure the nation tomorrow.”
To support this vision, Musa disclosed that the Ministry of Defence was undertaking significant reforms in its doctrine, acquisition processes and training programmes to prioritise critical areas such as unmanned systems and robotics, surveillance technologies, cybersecurity and resilience, secure communications, artificial intelligence governance, data-driven decision-making tools, and advanced domestic manufacturing.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the Minister of Defence on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, the minister said the initiative aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on industrialisation and economic development.
He explained that ongoing reforms at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) were aimed at creating an ecosystem where defence investments stimulate economic growth, generate high-technology jobs, strengthen university research and open up new commercial opportunities.
As part of efforts to deepen collaboration between the defence sector and the technology ecosystem, the minister launched the Defence Futures Lab Pathway, a side event convened by Kryterion.
The initiative was designed to foster partnerships that could accelerate innovation and enhance national security capabilities.
Musa emphasised that the platform should not be viewed as a procurement exercise but rather as an avenue for strategic thinking and long-term capability development.
“This is an opportunity to think ahead, organise better, and explore practical ways of strengthening the wider defence ecosystem,” he said.