The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, has approved the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria, DICON, as a beneficiary institution, with annual allocations expected to begin in 2027.
Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, disclosed this in Abuja while receiving DICON Director-General, Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Alaya, and his delegation on Wednesday.
Echono said the Fund’s Board of Trustees approved DICON’s inclusion at its meeting the previous week, making the institution eligible for interventions in infrastructure, information and communication technology, staff development, research and innovation.
He urged DICON to appoint qualified officers to coordinate applications, prepare project proposals and ensure compliance with TETFund’s guidelines.
Echono stressed the importance of DICON’s technical programmes, particularly Welding and Fabrication Technology and Mechatronics Engineering Technology, in developing local expertise and strengthening Nigeria’s manufacturing capacity.
He also encouraged the institution to participate in TETFair, TETFund’s national exhibition of research, innovation and manufacturing, scheduled for November.
According to him, the Fund is willing to collaborate with DICON on research and innovation, particularly in defence and security.
He added that the institution could nominate a qualified researcher to its national research grant and monitoring committee, which covers military and defence among other thematic areas.
Earlier, Alaya said the visit was to brief TETFund on DICON’s progress and seek guidance on meeting the institution’s establishment and operational needs following its inclusion as a beneficiary.
He said DICON Institute of Technology was established to develop the skilled technical and engineering workforce required to support Nigeria’s defence manufacturing industry and broader industrial development.
Alaya disclosed that the institution had been classified as a federal polytechnic, with the National Board for Technical Education approving six National Diploma programmes: Welding and Fabrication Technology, Foundry Technology, Computer Science, Science Laboratory Technology, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, and Mechatronics Engineering Technology.
He said admissions were open for the programmes, which have an approved capacity of about 960 students.
Although the institute has classrooms, male and female hostels, laboratories and a library, Alaya said additional facilities and specialised equipment were needed to support effective practical training.
He identified modern welding simulators, computing and networking facilities, and specialised mechatronics laboratories as immediate priorities.
The DICON chief said the management would develop a phased institutional development plan outlining project costs, timelines and measurable educational outcomes.
He also assured TETFund that the institute would prioritise essential requirements, maintain financial accountability and ensure the proper upkeep of facilities and equipment.
Alaya said the ultimate goal was to produce technically competent graduates capable of contributing to Nigeria’s industrial and defence manufacturing sectors.
