Jonathan To Tinubu’s Security Team: Africa Cannot Defend Its Future Without Building Its Own Industrial Power
By Passman Akpos
ABUJA — The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, on Monday, August 24, 2026, joined former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), the Chief of Defence Staff, Service Chiefs, the Inspector General of Police and other senior security and strategic stakeholders at the National Defence College (NDC) Course 34 Graduation Lecture in Abuja.
The high-level event, held at Abacha Hall, NDC, featured a keynote lecture delivered by former President Jonathan on the theme, “Harnessing Industrial Capacity for Inclusive Growth and Regional Stability in Africa.”
The lecture provided a strategic platform for senior military, security and civilian leaders to examine the relationship between industrial development, economic resilience and sustainable security in Nigeria and across the African continent.
Jonathan’s presentation focused attention on Africa’s vast industrial potential and the need for countries on the continent to build stronger domestic productive capacity, promote technological advancement and reduce excessive dependence on external sources for critical goods, services and strategic capabilities.
The engagement also brought together the Chief of Defence Intelligence, the Director-General of the Department of State Services, heads of other security agencies and distinguished participants, who examined ways industrialisation could contribute to inclusive economic growth, strengthen national resilience and promote long-term regional stability.
The discussions underscored the increasingly important connection between industrial capacity, economic security and national defence, particularly as African countries confront complex and evolving security threats.
Participants noted that sustainable security cannot be achieved through military strength alone, stressing the importance of economic opportunity, technological innovation, effective governance and resilient domestic industries in tackling some of the underlying factors that fuel instability.
The participation of Lieutenant General Shaibu and other senior defence and security leaders further highlighted the importance of a whole-of-government approach to national security.
The emerging security environment, speakers noted, requires closer integration of defence policy with economic planning, industrial development, technology and strategic national infrastructure.
For Nigeria, the discourse also reinforced the importance of strengthening indigenous capacity to support the Armed Forces and other security institutions while creating jobs, expanding economic opportunities and reducing strategic vulnerabilities.
The Graduation Lecture formed part of activities marking the completion of NDC Course 34, further underscoring the College’s role in preparing senior military, security and civilian leaders to understand and respond to complex national, regional and global challenges.
The engagement ultimately reinforced a central message: Africa’s long-term peace and stability will increasingly depend on its ability to convert its industrial and technological potential into inclusive economic growth, national resilience and strategic independence.
