The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, has joined the Chief of Defence Staff, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of State for Defence and other Service Chiefs at the Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 in Lagos to explore technologies and strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening Africa’s defence capabilities.
The exhibition, holding from October 26 to 29, 2026, at Eko Atlantic, Lagos, featured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Special Guest of Honour, represented by the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
AFRIDEX 2026 brings together African defence institutions, international manufacturers, technology innovators, policymakers and military leaders to showcase emerging technologies and explore practical solutions to the continent’s evolving security challenges.
The event provides a platform for engagements on defence innovation, technology transfer, interoperability and indigenous production across the air, land, maritime, cyber and space domains.
These areas are considered critical to strengthening Africa’s capacity to address terrorism, insurgency, transnational organised crime and other security threats, while reducing dependence on external sources for essential defence equipment and technologies.
For Nigeria, the exhibition offers opportunities to explore advanced military technologies, strengthen local defence-industrial capacity and improve the operational effectiveness of the Armed Forces through strategic collaborations with international partners.
Aneke’s participation highlights the Nigerian Air Force’s commitment to technological advancement, mission-focused capability development and partnerships that can enhance airpower effectiveness in joint military operations.
The exhibition also provides an avenue for defence stakeholders to exchange expertise, identify areas of cooperation and develop approaches to improving military readiness in response to emerging threats.
