ECOWAS Commission President H.E. General Birame Diop used AFRIDEX’s opening ceremony in Lagos, running 26-30 October 2026, to argue for stronger regional defence cooperation built around home-grown defence industries.
The event has drawn political leaders, defence policymakers, military commanders, defence industrial enterprises, researchers and security experts from across Africa and beyond, according to a report from the Economic Community of West African States.
Nigeria’s President, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, presided over the opening ceremony through the President of the Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio.
The Honourable Minister of Defence, the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Service Chiefs, senior government officials, military officers and a broad spectrum of serving and retired defence leaders were also in attendance.
In their remarks, the Nigerian authorities reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace and security on the continent and stressed the importance of enhanced defence cooperation in addressing evolving security threats.
Those threats, as set out at the event, include terrorism, violent extremism, transnational organised crime, maritime insecurity, cyber threats and other emerging security challenges confronting the continent.
General Diop, delivering the keynote address, expressed ECOWAS’s appreciation to President Tinubu for what he described as a steadfast commitment to the regional peace, security and integration agenda.
He called AFRIDEX a timely demonstration of Nigeria’s longstanding leadership in advancing regional peace, security and integration.
The Commission President said the exhibition was taking place at a critical time marked by a complex and challenging security landscape, a rapidly changing geopolitical environment, and constraints on access to defence equipment, critical technologies and military capabilities.
He pointed to the importance of building resilience, self-reliance and indigenous defence capabilities to address those threats effectively.
General Diop also highlighted ongoing work by the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to deepen regional defence cooperation, strengthen defence-industrial collaboration and explore innovative approaches to financing peace and security initiatives.
He underlined that ECOWAS’s ongoing efforts to activate the ECOWAS Standby Force in the fight against terrorism reflect the region’s commitment to collective action, operational readiness and self-reliance in addressing contemporary security challenges.
He closed by calling for support for initiatives such as AFRIDEX and for the work of institutions including the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
According to the Commission, AFRIDEX serves as a strategic platform for promoting defence cooperation, strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing, showcasing emerging security technologies, fostering military-industrial partnerships and advancing collaborative approaches to security challenges across Africa.
The exhibition, it said, also promotes innovation, knowledge exchange and investment in defence capabilities that contribute to regional peace, stability and sustainable development.
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