Retired Maj.-Gen. Nnaemeka Maduegbunam, a former Director-General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), has called on Nigeria to harness its indigenous talents to achieve self-reliance in science and technology.
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 on Thursday in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, he said the book documented his military career and experiences in developing home-grown engineering solutions to national challenges, particularly in defence production.
Maduegbunam, a mechanical engineer, said Nigerians possessed the ingenuity and creativity needed to make significant contributions to the country’s science and technology ecosystem.
He added that the book was also an attempt to document lessons on leadership, discipline, self-reliance and nation-building drawn from his 34 years of military service.
According to him, a major focus of the book is his tenure as Director-General of DICON, where he demonstrated the potential of indigenous expertise to revive Nigeria’s defence manufacturing capacity.
Maduegbunam said he assumed leadership of DICON in February 2006 and met largely dormant machinery and production facilities.
According to the book, he subsequently revived the machines within five months and commenced the production of weapons for the Nigerian military.
He attributed the breakthrough to committed leadership and the support of the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
Maduegbunam recalled that during Obasanjo’s first visit to DICON on Sept. 30, 2006, the former president expressed disappointment over the condition of the facilities.
He said he nevertheless assured the former president that the machines could be restored, declaring, “We can do it. We can restore the machines, sir.”
According to him, the encounter became a turning point that triggered renewed energy, innovation and achievements at DICON.
The retired general said the experience demonstrated that Nigeria could overcome technological constraints when indigenous expertise was matched with purposeful leadership and political commitment.
He therefore called for greater confidence in Nigerian engineers, scientists, innovators and other professionals capable of developing solutions to the country’s technological needs.
The book also advocates patriotic leadership and decisions that prioritise Nigeria’s long-term interests over dependence on imported technologies.
Maduegbunam was born on April 23, 1957, in Obosi, Anambra, and graduated from the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu.
He also studied at Cranfield Institute of Technology, Cranfield University, United Kingdom, and was commissioned into the Nigerian Army in 1980.
He retired from active military service on Aug. 5, 2013, but has remained involved in mentoring young officers, scientists and technology enthusiasts.
The retired general has also continued to deliver lectures and participate in discussions on technological self-reliance and indigenous innovation.
The book will be unveiled in Abuja on Thursday, with military officers, industrialists, politicians, academics and other stakeholders expected to attend.
The presentation is expected to provide a platform for renewed discussions on Nigeria’s capacity to develop indigenous science, technology and defence-industrial solutions.
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