Sunday Okobi and Michael Olugbode in Abuja
Against the backdrop of persistent insecurity and increasing calls for Nigeria to produce more of its military equipment locally, the Defence Industry Association of Nigeria (DIAN) has elected a new Executive Committee(EC), promising to strengthen indigenous defence manufacturing, expand technology partnerships and accelerate the growth of the nation’s defence industrial base.
The development comes at a time when Nigeria is intensifying efforts to reduce dependence on imported military hardware and build a self-reliant defence industry capable of supporting the operational needs of the Armed Forces and other security agencies confronting terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other emerging security threats.
Leading the newly elected EC is Maj. Gen. B.I. Alaya of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) as Chairman. Other members include: Alhaji Saifullahi Babangida of Vinicius Global Link Ltd as Vice Chairman; Ogonna Okonkwo of DICON-SMARTFIT Ltd as General Secretary; Otunba Adedotun Henry Bademosi of Phylote Nigeria Limited as Financial Secretary; Dr. Chuks Ekwueme of UNICCON Group of Companies as Treasurer; Sunday Akhigbe of White-Hat Consults Ltd as Welfare Secretary; Bem Ibrahim Garba of DICON Gray Insignia Nigeria Ltd as Publicity Secretary, and Charles Ibanga of X-Shield Solutions Company Limited as Assistant Financial Secretary.
