Registration is now open for AFRIDEX 2026, the Africa International Defence Exhibition, which is scheduled from 26–29 October 2026 in Eko Atlantic, Lagos, Nigeria. Supported by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, this event will gather participants from various sectors, including government bodies, armed forces, technological innovators, and security professionals, to discuss advancements and collaborations in shaping Africa's defence and security future.
The event is designed as a protocol-driven initiative aimed at fostering connections among key public sector and military organisations with the private sector. Through structured meetings, strategic conferences, and hosted delegations, AFRIDEX seeks to drive significant outcomes as African nations tackle increasingly complex threats across land, maritime, air, cyber, and space domains.
Insights from defence leaders
General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), Honourable Minister of Defence of Nigeria, emphasised that, "Africa's defence and security priorities will be defined by Africa's realities and delivered through African-led action." AFRIDEX 2026 is positioned as a crucial platform to align critical capability needs, foster partnerships, and translate strategic intentions into actionable outcomes. This supports Nigeria's dedication to enhancing indigenous capacity and regional cooperation.
Highlighting Africa's defence capabilities
Industry experts view AFRIDEX as vital for showcasing the continent's burgeoning defence industry
Industry experts view AFRIDEX as vital for showcasing the continent's burgeoning defence industry, offering new opportunities for investment and collaboration. "We need an organisation like this to bring awareness among African countries of what we are capable of doing," stated Major General Abbas (Rtd), Managing Director of Bufalo Engineering and Technical Services Limited, highlighting the importance of promoting local capabilities through such events.
Key strategic activities
Bringing together a diverse range of stakeholders, AFRIDEX will present the latest innovations and capabilities across various domains, enabling attendees to engage with industry leaders and military officials. Delegation programmes, strategic conferences, and live demonstrations are set to enhance networking and collaboration opportunities.
Reflecting the importance of cyber resilience, the exhibition will include dedicated spaces for cyber security exhibitors, focusing on safeguarding digital and national security infrastructures. This emphasis supports Nigeria's growing defence industrial base and emphasises international cooperation within the sector.
Driving industrial and technological growth
AFRIDEX aims to underscore Africa's pivotal role in developing a robust defence ecosystem
AFRIDEX aims to underscore Africa's pivotal role in developing a robust defence ecosystem through capability development, technological advancement, and sustainable industrial growth. The event promises a constructive environment for discussing interoperability, operational readiness, and regional cooperation.
According to Major General Ibrahim Babatunde Alaya, Director General of DICON, AFRIDEX "Will serve as a point of convergence and a global platform for defence, security, and technology stakeholders to exchange ideas and showcase cutting-edge innovations." Designed to become Africa's leading defence and security exhibition, it illustrates Nigeria's influence as a hub for innovation and strategic collaboration.
Event participation and registration
With registration open, military personnel, government representatives, industry stakeholders, and accredited media are invited to partake in AFRIDEX 2026, from 26–29 October 2026, at Eko Atlantic. Attendees will have the opportunity to dive deep into Africa's defence and security initiatives, shaping the future of the continent's strategic landscape.
Visitor registration is now open for AFRIDEX 2026, the Africa International Defence Exhibition, taking place from 26–29 October 2026 at Eko Atlantic, Lagos, Nigeria.
Hosted with the formal support of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, AFRIDEX 2026 will bring together governments, armed forces, policymakers, defence manufacturers, technology innovators and security professionals to explore the capabilities, technologies and partnerships shaping the future of defence and security across Africa.
Long-term resilience
Designed as a protocol-led defence and security platform, AFRIDEX has been created to accelerate engagement between public sector decision-makers, military organisations and industry through curated meeting programmes, hosted delegations and strategic conferences focused on delivering meaningful outcomes.
As nations across the continent confront increasingly complex threats spanning the land, maritime, air, cyber and space domains, AFRIDEX will provide a dedicated forum for capability development, partnership building and long-term resilience.
Sustained industrial growth
General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd) OFR, Honourable Minister of Defence, Federal Republic of Nigeria, said: "Africa's defence and security priorities will be defined by Africa's realities and delivered through African-led action. Across the continent, nations are confronting dynamic and multidimensional threats spanning the Land, Maritime, Air, Cyber and Space domains. Meeting these challenges demands not just coordination, but decisive capability development, stronger interoperability and sustained industrial growth.”
“AFRIDEX 2026 is not just an exhibition; it is a strategic convening point to drive alignment on critical capability needs, accelerate partnerships and translate intent into tangible outcomes that strengthen readiness and resilience across Africa. Nigeria is proud to host AFRIDEX as a clear demonstration of our commitment to advancing indigenous capacity, deepening continental cooperation and shaping a secure, self-reliant and strategically aligned Africa."
Growing defence industrial capability
Industry leaders have also welcomed AFRIDEX as an important initiative to raise the profile of Africa's growing defence industrial capability while creating new opportunities for collaboration, investment and exports.
Major General Abbas (Rtd), Managing Director, Bufalo Engineering and Technical Services Limited, said: "We need an organisation like this to bring awareness among African countries of what we are capable of doing. If people do not know what you are doing, you are not likely to sell your products. We must have an organisation like this that is able to showcase companies, enabling them to promote their capabilities and grow their business."
Future defence requirements
AFRIDEX 2026 is expected to bring together government representatives, military leaders, defence ministries, security agencies, industry stakeholders and technology innovators from across Africa and around the world, creating a powerful platform for dialogue, collaboration and capability development.
The event will showcase technologies and capabilities across the land, maritime, air, cyber and space domains, providing attendees with access to the latest innovations, operational capabilities and emerging solutions designed to address Africa's evolving defence and security requirements.
The exhibition will also provide a platform for defence technology companies to demonstrate operational capability, engage directly with military end users and showcase the latest innovations supporting future defence requirements.
Hosted delegation programmes
Rear Admiral S. S. Lassa (Rtd), CEO, Epsilon Unmanned Systems and Consultant to the Armed Forces, said: "Everything starts with seeing something; seeing is believing. If you are not showing what you have, it is difficult for people to know what you can do. AFRIDEX, the first of its kind, is the right step in the right direction, bringing together defence industries from around the world, including Nigeria, to showcase their capabilities."
In addition to an extensive exhibition, AFRIDEX will feature strategic conferences, hosted delegation programmes, industry networking opportunities and live land, maritime and air demonstrations.
Visitors attending AFRIDEX 2026 will have the opportunity to:
- Track capability priorities across multiple defence and security requirements.
- Explore emerging and dual-use technologies supporting national resilience.
- Engage directly with procurement officials, capability planners and military decision makers.
- Connect across the full defence and security supply chain, from innovation and integration to sustainment and lifecycle support.
- Participate in discussions focused on interoperability, operational readiness and regional cooperation.
Protecting critical infrastructure
Reflecting the growing importance of cyber resilience, AFRIDEX will feature dedicated cyber security exhibitors and technology providers focused on protecting critical infrastructure, digital economies and national security assets. AFRIDEX is also expected to play an important role in supporting Nigeria's growing defence industrial base while strengthening international cooperation across the sector.
Major General Ibrahim Babatunde Alaya, Director General of the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), said: "AFRIDEX is designed to showcase indigenous capabilities while leveraging the expertise and experience of our international partners. It will serve as a point of convergence and a global platform for defence, security and technology stakeholders to exchange ideas and showcase cutting-edge innovations.”
“This exhibition is poised to become Africa's premier defence and security exhibition and reflects the growing influence of Nigeria as a hub for industrial innovation, strategic cooperation and regional security collaboration. For us, AFRIDEX is a national project. The Government of Nigeria, the Armed Forces and the country's security institutions are fully committed to its success. We invite defence manufacturers, ministers of defence, chiefs of defence staff and industry leaders from around the world to join us in Lagos and become part of this important initiative."
Sustainable industrial growth
AFRIDEX 2026 will showcase Africa's growing role in shaping a resilient and collaborative defence ecosystem while supporting capability development, technology adoption and sustainable industrial growth across the continent.
With visitor registration now open, defence and security professionals from across Africa and around the world are invited to secure their place at what is expected to become one of the continent's defence and security events.
Sovereign capability development
Mr Richard P. Pheelangwah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Nigeria, said: "We look forward to welcoming you all to Lagos from 26–29 October 2026, where together we will witness new ideas, new technologies and new partnerships that can help shape the future of defence and security on our continent. AFRIDEX is envisioned as Africa's premier platform for defence cooperation, sovereign capability development, industrial partnership and the showcasing of emerging technologies that will define the future battlefield and security environment. Sometimes the most important defence agreement does not begin inside the conference hall; it begins with a handshake, a conversation and perhaps even a coffee."
Registration is now open for military personnel, government representatives, defence and security professionals, industry stakeholders and accredited media. AFRIDEX 2026 will take place from 26–29 October 2026 at Eko Atlantic, Lagos, Nigeria, bringing together governments, armed forces, defence manufacturers, technology innovators and security organisations from across Africa and around the world.
