The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Mohammed Badaru, has said that unlocking Nigeria’s industrial potential is critical to addressing poverty, unemployment, insecurity, and transforming the country’s socio-economic challenges into opportunities.
Badaru made this known on Thursday in Abuja during the inaugural lecture of Course 34 at the National Defence College (Nigeria), themed “Optimising Capacity for Industrialisation and Socio-Economic Development in Africa.”
He explained that Nigeria’s path to economic transformation requires a deliberate recalibration of government policies to fully optimise the nation’s industrial capacity.
“Once Nigeria’s industrial capacity is fully optimised, solutions to entrenched problems like insecurity, unemployment, and poverty will become more attainable, paving the way for a more prosperous and stable nation,” the minister said.
Badaru commended the guest lecturer, Dr. Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director of Bank of Industry, for his insightful presentation highlighting the link between industrialisation and socio-economic development.
“Africa is the resource epicentre of the world — historically and presently feeding industrialisation in developed nations. Nigeria’s socio-economic development cannot be realised without effectively optimising our industrial capacity,” he added.
He noted that the volatile and uncertain global environment is fueling violent extremism and empowering non-state actors that challenge state power, particularly in Africa.
“Nigeria, in particular, faces insecurity from terrorism, insurgency, and banditry. Resolving these complex problems will require a clear recalibration of government policies on industrialisation,” he said.
Dr. Olusi, in his lecture, reaffirmed the BOI’s commitment to advancing industrialisation by supporting projects that create jobs, boost exports, enable import substitution, and contribute to sustainable national development.
“Development finance is not just about loans; it’s about impact, sustainability, and transformation,” Olusi stated.
“Productive transformation turns potential into power and resources into resilience. Africa has the talent, resources, and market to achieve this. What is required is coordination, conviction, and continuity.”
He urged African leaders to move from aspiration to deliberate action, adding that “the best way to predict the future is to create it.”
In his remarks, the Commandant of the NDC, Rear Admiral James Okosun, reiterated the college’s commitment to academic excellence and leadership development. He said the institution aims to produce strategic leaders equipped to leverage national power in dynamic defence and security environments.
“Our vision is to be a global centre of excellence for educating strategic leaders in a dynamic world,” Okosun said, noting that the college has graduated 3,099 participants, including 359 officers from allied countries, since 1990.
