The Minister gave the charge while delivering a speech as the special guest of honour during the opening of a two-day symposium on Defence Space Administration held at Defence Space Administration in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Badaru, a former Governor of Jigawa State pointed out that the knowledge, expertise, and insight that will be shared during the workshop will undoubtedly serve as a catalyst for transformative change in the nation’s defense mechanism internally and mechanism.
“Together, we can harness the power of emerging technologies to build a more secure and prosperous future for our nation and its people,” he said.
He added that in a fast evolving world, where advancements in technology are reshaping the landscape of national security, “We must adapt and innovate to protect our defence infrastructure effectively.”
In the words of Badaru, Nigeria has witnessed the emergence of new and sophisticated threats, ranging from cyber-attacks to space-based challenges, stressing that “It’s important to stay ahead of the curve and harness the power of emerging technologies to fortify our defence and ensure the security of our Nation.”
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, for his continued support and for providing the enabling environment for all facet of government to thrive, especially the Armed Forces, while leveraging emerging technologies to safeguard defence infrastructure in particular and the nation in general.
The Minister underscored emerging technology’s pivotal role in enhancing the nation’s defence systems’ resilience and effectiveness.
“From artificial intelligence and machine learning to quantum computing and space-based technologies, the possibilities are endless for leveraging and strengthening our defence infrastructure and safeguarding our nation’s sovereignty,” he stressed.
On his part, the Chief of Defence Space Administration, Air Vice Marshal AA Shinkafi took the Minister round the exhibition stand to see the innovation in satellite Communication Technologies produced by the organisation.