By Stella Odueme
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on global defence investors and technology innovators to partner with Nigeria in strengthening security and promoting peace and stability across Africa.
Tinubu made the call at the opening ceremony of the maiden Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026, held at Eko Atlantic City, Lagos, from October 26 to 30.
The President, represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, said Nigeria was open to defence partnerships founded on mutual trust, respect and shared values.
According to a statement by the Chief Information Officer, Ministry of Defence, Queenet Iheoma-Hart, (PhD) on Monday, henoted that security threats were becoming increasingly complex and interconnected, requiring stronger cooperation among African countries and international partners.
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Tinubu urged African defence establishments and global innovators in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies to collaborate with Nigeria in addressing security challenges across the continent.
He stressed that Africa must keep pace with emerging developments in military equipment, personnel training and international defence cooperation to safeguard peace and stability.
According to him, peace and stability create opportunities, strengthen public confidence in institutions and enable societies to plan for the future.
The President also highlighted the potential of Nigeria's young population, noting that talented young people needed opportunities to develop their skills and contribute to national development.
He urged participants to use the exhibition to exchange knowledge, hold bilateral meetings, sign memoranda of understanding and explore investment opportunities in Nigeria's defence sector.
"Let the partnerships formed here strengthen our readiness. Let the knowledge exchanged here inspire our innovators. And let the commitments made here produce tangible results that our people can see and experience," he said.
Earlier, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), disclosed that Nigeria planned to commence large-scale local production of defence hardware within the next year for domestic use and export, particularly to other African countries.
Musa encouraged international investors and defence industry stakeholders to take advantage of the exhibition to invest in Nigeria's defence sector.
He said the exhibition's side engagements would also strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations among defence establishments, government representatives, industry players and strategic partners.
The Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, described AFRIDEX as a dynamic platform designed to achieve its objectives through collaboration among participating countries and industry stakeholders.
In separate goodwill messages, the Lagos State Governor, represented by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and the representative of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Birame Diop, expressed optimism that the exhibition would provide an inclusive platform for African countries to revitalise and expand their defence industries.
The Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), Major General B.I. Alaya, commended Tinubu for his continued support for the corporation and pledged to enhance its production capacity.
Following the opening ceremony, the Defence Minister inspected exhibition stands featuring participants from various countries and held an executive meeting with the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).
The event attracted the Chief of Defence Staff, serving and former service chiefs, the chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Defence and representatives from more than 20 African countries.