The Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, has called on Nigerian innovators, researchers and technology startups to develop indigenous defence technologies capable of addressing the country’s evolving security challenges.
Speaking at the Omniverse Africa 3.0 Summit in Lagos, Musa said modern security threats demand more than conventional military responses, stressing that technology, innovation and industrial development must become central pillars of Nigeria’s defence strategy. He identified artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, surveillance systems, secure communications and advanced manufacturing as critical areas requiring local innovation.
The minister also launched the Defence Futures Lab Pathway, a new collaboration platform designed to strengthen partnerships between the defence sector and technology innovators. According to him, the initiative is focused on long term planning and capability development rather than procurement, with ongoing reforms at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria aimed at promoting local manufacturing, research and high technology job creation.
Stakeholders at the summit agreed that strengthening indigenous technological capacity is essential for enhancing national security and reducing dependence on imported defence systems. They, however, noted that sustained funding, research investment and stronger collaboration between government, academia and industry will be crucial to achieving these goals. Participants are expected to reconvene in three months to assess progress and review proposals aligned with the Federal Government’s indigenous defence development agenda.