Nigeria can reduce its dependence on imported technology by investing in indigenous talent and creating the conditions for local engineers, scientists and innovators to develop solutions to national challenges, former Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), retired Maj.-Gen. Nnaemeka Maduegbunam, has said.
Maduegbunam made the call in his book, “We Can Do It: Towards Nigeria’s Self-Reliance in Science and Technology,” which is scheduled for public presentation in Abuja.
In a statement on Tuesday, the retired general said the book documents experiences from his military career, including his work in developing home-grown engineering solutions, particularly in the area of defence production.
A mechanical engineer, Maduegbunam said Nigerians possess the creativity and ingenuity required to make meaningful contributions to the country’s science and technology ecosystem.
He said his book was also intended to preserve lessons from his 34 years of military service, particularly on leadership, discipline, self-reliance and nation building.
A major focus of the book is his tenure as Director-General of DICON, where he said he witnessed the potential of indigenous expertise to revive Nigeria’s defence manufacturing capabilities.
Maduegbunam assumed leadership of DICON in February 2006, at a time when, according to his account in the book, much of the organisation’s machinery and production facilities were dormant.
He said the equipment was subsequently restored within five months, allowing production of weapons for the Nigerian military to resume.
The retired general attributed the achievement to committed leadership as well as the support of the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He recalled that Obasanjo visited DICON on September 30, 2006, and expressed disappointment after seeing the condition of the facilities.
Maduegbunam said he assured the former president that the machinery could be restored and responded confidently: “We can do it. We can restore the machines, sir.”
According to him, the encounter became an important turning point for DICON, generating renewed momentum for innovation and production within the organisation.
He said the experience demonstrated that Nigeria could overcome technological constraints when indigenous expertise is supported by purposeful leadership and political commitment.
The former DICON chief therefore called for greater confidence in Nigerian engineers, scientists, innovators and other professionals who have the skills to develop solutions to the country’s technological needs.
He argued that the country’s approach to science and technology should place greater emphasis on developing local capacity rather than relying heavily on imported technologies.
The book also advocates patriotic leadership and decision-making that prioritises Nigeria’s long-term interests and strengthens the country’s ability to develop and maintain its own technological capabilities.
For Maduegbunam, the experience at DICON provides an example of what can be achieved when local expertise is given the opportunity, resources and institutional support to solve national problems.
The retired general’s argument comes at a time when technological capability is increasingly linked to national development, industrial capacity and security.
His experience in defence manufacturing forms a central part of the case presented in the book, particularly the restoration of machinery and the resumption of local production at DICON.
The account also places emphasis on the role of leadership in turning existing technical capacity into practical results.
Maduegbunam said the revival of the DICON facilities was not simply a demonstration of engineering capability but also an illustration of what could happen when technical professionals receive the necessary institutional backing.
He has continued to participate in discussions on technological self-reliance and indigenous innovation following his retirement from active military service.
The retired general has also remained involved in mentoring young officers, scientists and technology enthusiasts, while delivering lectures and participating in conversations about Nigeria’s science and technology development.
Maduegbunam was born on April 23, 1957, in Obosi, Anambra State. He graduated from the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, before furthering his studies at Cranfield Institute of Technology, now Cranfield University, in the United Kingdom.
He was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1980 and retired from active military service on August 5, 2013.
His professional background as a mechanical engineer and his experience leading DICON provide the context for his advocacy for greater investment in indigenous engineering and technological capabilities.
The book presentation in Abuja is expected to bring together military officers, industrialists, politicians, academics and other stakeholders.
The event is also expected to provide an opportunity for broader discussions about Nigeria’s capacity to develop indigenous solutions in science, technology and defence production.
The central message of Maduegbunam’s work is that technological self-reliance requires more than access to equipment. It also depends on the ability to develop, retain and effectively deploy skilled Nigerians capable of designing and maintaining technologies locally.
His experience at DICON, as documented in the book, is presented as an example of how existing facilities and expertise can be revitalised when supported by committed leadership.
The former DICON director-general is therefore urging the country to place greater confidence in its engineers, scientists and innovators and to create an environment where their expertise can be applied to national development.
The book’s presentation is expected to renew discussions around the role of indigenous innovation in reducing technology dependence and strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to develop home-grown solutions.
For a country seeking greater technological self-reliance, the discussion extends beyond defence production to the wider science and technology ecosystem, where local skills, institutional support and sustained investment can determine the ability to develop solutions for national needs.