In April we exhibited at SIADE in Abidjan. In October we crossed to Lagos for the first Africa International Defence Exhibition, AFRIDEX 2026, this time as visitors. We went to listen, and we came back with a clearer picture of where African defence capability is heading.
From 26 to 29 October 2026, an ECADSOL Group delegation attended AFRIDEX at Eko Atlantic, Lagos. The exhibition was held under the patronage of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, hosted by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and organised by DMG events, with the support of ECOWAS. Organisers projected more than 20,000 attendees, over 300 exhibitors and more than 100 official delegations, making it one of the most ambitious defence gatherings the continent has seen.
Our delegation was led by Mr Boris Yao, Founder & CEO and included Mr Prince Henry Ajene, Director of Operations & Commercial and Mr Janan Keddi, Director of Programmes & Partnerships.
Why we went as visitors
A first edition is the right moment to listen. We wanted to hear directly what African armed forces and security agencies say they need, to see who is serving that need, and to meet the partners we want to build with. Walking the floor, rather than staffing a stand, gave our team the freedom to do exactly that across all four days.
Nigeria matters to our story. It is one of Africa's largest defence markets and an ECOWAS partner to Côte d'Ivoire, where we hope to develop an Industrial Technology Campus at Dimbokro. AFRIDEX was hosted by DICON, whose mission to grow indigenous defence production sits close to our own conviction: capability is most resilient when it is designed, built and sustained close to the point of use.
What we saw
The exhibition opened on 26 October with an address by Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, President of the Senate, delivered on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. A central message was that a partnership should be measured by the capability it leaves behind.
AFRIDEX spanned five domains: land, maritime, air, space and cyber. Alongside the exhibition halls ran a two-day Strategic Conference, a Ministers of Defence in Africa Summit, a technical theatre, international pavilions, an outdoor static display and a live demonstration area. Three themes stood out for us.
- Autonomy is arriving.
Uncrewed and autonomous systems were visible across every domain, including an autonomous surface vessel unveiled at the show. Maritime and border security drew consistent attention, echoing what we heard at SIADE in April. - Partnership, not just purchase.
Speakers and delegations returned again and again to local manufacturing, skills transfer and through-life support. The conversation has moved beyond one-off equipment buys towards building lasting capability at home. General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, Minister of Defence, encouraged international investment in Nigerian defence manufacturing. Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, MON, Minister of State for Defence and Chairman of the DICON Board, called for practical collaboration on technology transfer, local production and research. Major General Ibrahim Babatunde Alaya, Director General of DICON, described the exhibition as a strategic platform for translating ambition into action. - Africa's security agenda is global.
Senior leadership from ECOWAS and U.S. Africa Command took part alongside national pavilions from Europe, Asia and the Middle East, a clear sign of the continent's growing strategic weight. General Birame Diop, President of the ECOWAS Commission, made the regional case for building West Africa's own industrial capacity, highlighting the work of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff to strengthen defence cooperation and industrial collaboration.
Joining the procurement discussion
On 28 October, Boris Yao responded to a question raised by a panellist during the strategic procurement discussion. His point was that buyers need to plan for the full life of a system from the outset: how it will integrate, who will maintain it and how gaps will be caught during delivery. The panel also discussed involving local suppliers early, before an equipment manufacturer is chosen. Both points connect directly to why training and long-term support matter.
Conversations that matter
Over four days our team met defence industry representatives, system integrators, international manufacturers and investors. We also engaged with senior African defence and government leaders, including brief, informal conversations with both of Nigeria's defence ministers and members of their teams, international defence organisations, representatives of the United States, the French Defence Attaché and the UK defence delegation. Our discussions centred on industrial cooperation, technology transfer, sustainment and the skills needed to build engineering capability in-country. These are the foundations of the sovereign capability ECADSOL exists to deliver, and it was encouraging to hear them shared so widely. Several conversations also raised civilian applications, particularly coastal monitoring, critical infrastructure protection and disaster response.
A highlight was the UK Defence Reception on the evening of Tuesday 27 October, hosted alongside AFRIDEX by the British Defence Adviser to Nigeria. The reception was a valuable opportunity to discuss long-term defence cooperation, industrial development and the role of emerging companies in strengthening international partnerships.
Our Founder and CEO, Boris Yao, held an insightful conversation with Major General John Clarke CBE, Commander of the Integrated Global Defence Network at the UK Ministry of Defence. Major General Clarke's message that security and prosperity must advance together closely reflects what ECADSOL is building.
Boris Yao, Founder and CEO of ECADSOL Group, said:
"Defence partnerships should go beyond supplying equipment. They should develop skills, strengthen local industry, build sustainable capabilities and create lasting value for everyone involved. As a UK-headquartered company with strong African roots, ECADSOL sees a genuine opportunity to contribute to that relationship, bringing together engineering, autonomous systems, technology development and industrial cooperation."
Our thanks
We would like to thank the following for their time, leadership and support during AFRIDEX 2026.
From the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for their leadership in advancing Nigeria's defence industrial ambitions:
- General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), OFR, Minister of Defence
- Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle, MON, Minister of State for Defence
- Major General Ibrahim Babatunde Alaya, Director General, Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON)
From the United Kingdom, for their engagement, guidance and support, and for championing stronger UK–Africa trade and industrial relationships:
- Major General John Clarke CBE, Commander, Integrated Global Defence Network, UK Ministry of Defence
- Brigadier Thomas Harper MBE, Head of British Defence Staff (West Africa) and Defence Adviser to Nigeria
- Commander Jonathan Howe, Deputy Defence Adviser for Nigeria
- Alastair Long, His Majesty's Trade Commissioner for Africa
- Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos
Our thanks also go to DICON, Nigeria's Ministry of Defence and DMG Events for organising AFRIDEX and bringing together such a wide range of defence, government and industry representatives.
What comes next
AFRIDEX confirmed that the need ECADSOL is built to meet is real and widely recognised: sovereign, sustainable capability for African customers, supported by African industry. From Abidjan in April to Lagos in October, we have heard these needs first-hand in both francophone and anglophone West Africa. We leave Lagos with new relationships and valuable insight. We are now following up with the contacts we made in Lagos and look forward to deepening those relationships in the months ahead.
Boris Yao added:
"I am proud of the progress we are making, particularly knowing where we started and the work that still lies ahead."
To discuss partnership, investment or industrial collaboration, contact us at info@ecadsol.com.
