Abuja: Retired Maj.-Gen. Nnaemeka Maduegbunam, former Director-General of DICON, has urged Nigeria to harness indigenous talents to achieve self-reliance in science and technology.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, 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 on Tuesday, he said the book documented his military career and experiences in developing home-grown engineering solutions to national challenges, particularly in defense production.
Maduegbunam, a mechanical engineer, emphasized that Nigerians possess the ingenuity and creativity needed to make significant contributions to the country’s science and technology ecosystem. He stated that the book also attempted to document lessons on leadership, discipline, self-reliance, and nation building from his 34 years of military service.
He highlighted that a major focus of the book is his tenure as DICON Director-General, where he demonstrated the potential of indigenous expertise in reviving Nigeria’s defense manufacturing capacity. Maduegbunam recalled assuming leadership of DICON in February 2006, encountering largely dormant machinery and production facilities. He noted that he revived the machines within five months and commenced production of weapons for the Nigerian military.
The retired general attributed the breakthrough to committed leadership and support from the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He recounted that during Obasanjo’s first visit to DICON on Sept. 30, 2006, the former president expressed disappointment over the state of the facilities. Maduegbunam assured the president that the machines could be restored, declaring, ‘We can do it. We can restore the machines, sir.’ This encounter, he said, became a turning point that triggered renewed energy, innovation, and achievements at DICON.
Maduegbunam asserted that Nigeria could overcome technological constraints when indigenous expertise was matched with purposeful leadership and political commitment. He 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 advocated for patriotic leadership and decisions that prioritize Nigeria’s long-term interests over dependence on imported technologies.
Born on April 23, 1957, in Obosi, Anambra, Maduegbunam 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 continues to deliver lectures and participate in discourses 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 discussion on Nigeria’s capacity to develop indigenous science, technology, and defense-industrial solutions.