The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), has stressed the need for increased investment in indigenous defence technology, local manufacturing, artificial intelligence and strategic partnerships to strengthen Nigeria’s national security and reduce dependence on foreign sources for critical defence capabilities.

He made the call at the maiden edition of the Defence Futures Summit 2026, themed “Sovereign Digital Backbone and Defence Innovation”, held on October 14, 2026, at the Armed Forces Event and Multipurpose Centre in Asokoro, Abuja.

In a statement, Enderline Chukwu, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations at the ministry, said Musa described the initiative as a landmark platform for advancing defence innovation, strengthening technological sovereignty and transforming Nigeria’s defence architecture. He urged Nigerians to continue making deliberate sacrifices to unite the country and improve its technological capabilities.

Musa said that although information and communication technology, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies were still developing within Nigeria’s defence ecosystem, the country possessed the intellectual capacity, human resources and innovative potential to compete in the evolving global defence environment.

He said the initiative aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to ensure that Nigeria does not merely adopt emerging defence technologies but actively contributes to shaping the future of defence capabilities. He added that it reflected the administration’s commitment to strengthening national security, innovation and self-reliance.

The minister said “the summit was conceived as one of the initiatives aimed at transforming Nigeria’s security architecture and positioning the country to anticipate emerging threats rather than merely react to changes in the character of modern warfare”.

He explained, “Nigeria’s strategy must therefore extend beyond conventional military hardware to encompass the knowledge system and technological infrastructure required to support modern military operations.”

He reiterated that Nigeria could not afford to remain perpetually dependent on external sources for critical defence technologies, calling for sustained investment in human capacity development, local innovators, defence industries and research institutions.

Musa said collaboration with the private sector was essential to building a resilient defence industrial base capable of translating Nigerian ingenuity into operational capabilities for the armed forces.

He expressed confidence that Nigeria possessed the talent, ambition and professional know-how required to drive defence innovation in line with international standards.

He pledged the ministry’s commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen indigenous capacity, encourage technological innovation and advance efforts towards a more resilient and self-reliant defence sector.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, the founder and convener of the Defence Futures Summit, retired Colonel Felix Alaita, said the summit underscored the need for a comprehensive Defence Renewal Architecture linking the nation’s security priorities with industrial development, research institutions, private-sector expertise and the creative potential of young Nigerians.

“The initiative is designed to improve operational readiness, strengthen institutional accountability and promote the responsible adoption of technology in addressing Nigeria’s evolving security challenges” he added.

Alaita further stated that the Defence Renewal Architecture was anchored on four pillars: enhancing operational readiness and security response; strengthening the indigenous defence industry; investing in human capital and youth development; and strengthening social understanding and the creative economy.

He called for stronger collaboration among the government, industry, academia and international partners to promote indigenous technology in manufacturing, energy, battery development and aircraft production, leveraging the expertise of the Air Force Institute of Technology.

Alaita also stressed the need for youth empowerment, skills development, job creation and knowledge-sharing. He urged participants to propose practical solutions to Nigeria’s challenges and ensure that discussions translated into concrete actions and measurable outcomes.