The Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, has approved the enlistment of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) as a beneficiary institution, with annual allocations expected to begin in 2027.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, disclosed this when the Director-General of DICON, Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Alaya, and his delegation visited the Fund in Abuja on Wednesday.
Mr Echono said the approval was granted by TETFund’s Board of Trustees at its meeting the previous week.
“Effectively, they are now members of the TETFund family, and from 2027, they will begin to receive annual allocations from TETFund,” he said.
He explained that DICON would be eligible for various intervention programmes covering infrastructure, information and communication technology, staff development, research and innovation.
Mr Echono advised the institution to appoint qualified desk officers to coordinate applications for the various interventions and ensure effective project implementation.
He said the officers should have the requisite expertise to prepare proposals, monitor projects and ensure compliance with the Fund’s guidelines.
The executive secretary highlighted the importance of DICON’s technical programmes, particularly Welding and Fabrication Technology and Mechatronics Engineering Technology.
According to him, Nigeria needs to strengthen its technical workforce to reduce dependence on foreign expertise and improve local manufacturing capacity.
“Technology has become so advanced that you can programme your entire welding scheme, and the equipment can carry out the cutting and other processes, helping you accomplish a lot within a short time,” he said.
Mr Echono encouraged DICON to participate in TETFair, the Fund’s national exhibition of research, innovation and manufacturing, scheduled for November, to showcase its achievements.
He also expressed the Fund’s readiness to collaborate with DICON on research and innovation, particularly in defence and security.
Mr Echono urged DICON to nominate a qualified researcher to participate in TETFund’s national research grant and monitoring committee, which he said, covered several thematic areas, including military and defence.
Earlier, Alaya said the visit was to brief TETFund on DICON’s progress and seek guidance on meeting the take-off requirements of its institute following its enlistment as a beneficiary institution.
He said the institute was established to develop the engineering and technical workforce needed to support Nigeria’s defence manufacturing industry and broader industrial development.
“The institute was established to address Nigeria’s critical need for skilled technical manpower in manufacturing, engineering, applied sciences and allied fields,” he said.
Alaya said the institute had been formally classified as a federal polytechnic, with the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, approving six National Diploma programmes.
He listed the programmes as Welding and Fabrication Technology, Foundry Technology, Computer Science, Science Laboratory Technology, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, and Mechatronics Engineering Technology.
According to him, admissions were open for the six programmes, with an approved student capacity of about 960.
Mr Alaya said the institute had provided basic infrastructure, including classrooms, male and female hostels, laboratories and a library, but required additional facilities and specialised equipment to deliver effective practical training.
“We have some structures on the ground, such as classroom infrastructure, hostels for both male and female students, laboratories, a library and so on.
“However, we still need to move beyond what is on the ground,” he said.
He identified modern welding simulators, computing and networking facilities, and specialised mechatronics laboratories as some of the institute’s immediate needs.
Mr Alaya said the management would develop a phased institutional development plan with clearly defined costs, timelines and measurable educational outcomes.
“We seek your guidance on the appropriate mechanism for addressing DICON Institute of Technology’s take-off and early-stage development needs, including any necessary role of the Federal Ministry of Education or other competent authorities,” he said.
He assured TETFund that the institute would prioritise essential requirements, ensure financial accountability and maintain the facilities and equipment provided.
“Our objective is to build a credible institution capable of producing technically competent graduates who will contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s industrial and defence industrial development,” he said.
NAN