03/10/2025
When Dr. Bello Matawalle, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, took the floor at the Inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja, his message resonated. Summarily it said: The future of warfare is digital, fast-moving, and unpredictable. To secure that future, Africa must invest in technology.
For those who have followed Bello Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence, this is not rhetoric. Since assuming office, he has consistently championed the idea that Africa’s defence capacity cannot rely solely on imported solutions. Instead, it must be rooted in indigenous innovation and local manufacturing.
Take an example. Under his watch, Nigeria has revived efforts to strengthen the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), long seen as the backbone of domestic military production. By forging a strategic partnership with the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), he has pushed for the fusion of defence needs with homegrown engineering and technological innovation.
This approach also speaks to a broader philosophy: that defence resilience is inseparable from economic sovereignty. A nation unable to produce or adapt its own military technologies remains dependent and vulnerable. Simple. Bello Matawalle has therefore argued for increased investment not only in cyber defence and surveillance systems but also in building Nigeria’s capacity to design and manufacture critical defence equipment. Such moves, he insists, will save foreign exchange, create skilled jobs, and position Nigeria as a regional hub for defence innovation.
Jobs Matawalle and the Case for Africa’s Tech-Driven Defence Future|| Dabiri Bashir Hassan By ADMIN ONE October 3, 2025 0 When Dr. Bello Matawalle, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, took the floor at the Inaugural African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja, his message resonated. Sum...
