Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has launched the Defence Futures Lab Pathway, an initiative aimed at closing the gap between the military and the country’s growing technology sector.
Gatekeepers News reports that Musa unveiled the programme during the Omniverse Africa 3.0 Summit in Lagos, where he called on innovators, researchers, startups and technology experts to contribute indigenous solutions to Nigeria’s security challenges.
He stressed that modern threats require more than conventional military equipment, urging the country to reduce its dependence on imported defence technologies and build local capabilities.
Speaking on the theme, “The 70/30 Rule: Why Nigeria’s Security and Innovation Agendas are the Same National Project,” the minister said future national security would depend on the integration of military strength, technological innovation, industrial capacity and strategic planning.
According to Musa, the Ministry of Defence is reviewing policies, procurement systems and training frameworks to prioritise emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, surveillance systems, secure communications, unmanned platforms and local defence manufacturing.
The minister also highlighted ongoing reforms at the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), noting that the government aims to create an ecosystem where defence investment drives industrial growth, research, innovation and high-skilled employment opportunities.
Explaining the purpose of the Defence Futures Lab, Musa said the platform is designed to encourage long-term collaboration between defence stakeholders and the technology community, focusing on capability development rather than immediate procurement.
Participants are expected to reconvene in three months to review progress and align new technological ideas with Nigeria’s indigenous defence objectives.
Musa said Nigeria must transition from being primarily a consumer of defence technology to becoming a producer of strategic capabilities that can strengthen national security and support economic development.
