DICON Secures TETFund Funding To Strengthen Technical Education

The Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) will begin receiving annual allocations from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in 2027, providing fresh funding opportunities for technical training, research and defence manufacturing.

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, disclosed this in Abuja during a visit by DICON Director-General, Maj.-Gen. Babatunde Alaya, and his delegation.

Echono said the Fund’s Board of Trustees approved DICON’s inclusion as a beneficiary at its meeting last week. The approval gives the institution access to interventions covering infrastructure, information and communication technology, staff development, research and innovation.

“Effectively, they are now members of the TETFund family, and from 2027, they will begin to receive annual allocations from TETFund,” he said.

He urged DICON to appoint qualified officers to coordinate applications and manage projects under the various intervention programmes. The officers, he said, must understand proposal preparation, project monitoring and compliance with the Fund’s guidelines.

Echono also stressed the need to develop technical skills that would help Nigeria reduce its dependence on foreign expertise and strengthen local manufacturing.

He identified Welding and Fabrication Technology and Mechatronics Engineering Technology as important areas for developing the skilled workforce required by modern industries.

“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.

Echono encouraged DICON to participate in TETFair, the Fund’s national exhibition of research, innovation and manufacturing, scheduled for November. He said the exhibition would provide an opportunity for the institution to showcase its achievements.

He also expressed TETFund’s readiness to support collaborative research in defence and security. According to him, DICON could nominate a qualified researcher to participate in the Fund’s national research grant and monitoring committee, which covers thematic areas including military and defence.

Alaya said his delegation visited TETFund to present an update on the institution’s progress and seek guidance on its immediate funding and development needs.

He explained that DICON Institute of Technology aims to produce the engineers and technicians needed to support Nigeria’s defence manufacturing industry and wider industrial development.

“The institute was established to address Nigeria’s critical need for skilled technical manpower in manufacturing, engineering, applied sciences and allied fields,” Alaya said.

He disclosed that the institution had secured formal classification as a federal polytechnic, while the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) had approved six National Diploma programmes.

The programmes are Welding and Fabrication Technology, Foundry Technology, Computer Science, Science Laboratory Technology, Procurement and Supply Chain Management, and Mechatronics Engineering Technology.

Alaya said admissions had opened across the six programmes, with an approved capacity of about 960 students.

However, he noted that the institution needed additional facilities and specialised equipment to provide effective practical training. Existing infrastructure includes classrooms, male and female hostels, laboratories and a library.

“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 listed modern welding simulators, computing and networking facilities, and specialised mechatronics laboratories among the institution’s immediate priorities.

Alaya said the management would develop a phased institutional development plan with clear cost estimates, implementation 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 institution would prioritise essential projects, maintain financial accountability and ensure proper maintenance of facilities and equipment.

“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,” Alaya said.

The inclusion of DICON among TETFund beneficiaries comes as the institution seeks to expand technical education and strengthen the supply of skilled personnel for defence production.

Access to the Fund’s intervention programmes could help address its infrastructure and equipment gaps, particularly in specialised fields that require practical training.

The development also offers an opportunity to strengthen the link between technical education, research and Nigeria’s ambition to expand domestic defence manufacturing.