Visitor registration has officially opened for AFRIDEX 2026, the Africa International Defense Exhibition, scheduled from October 26-29, 2026, at Eko Atlantic in Lagos, Nigeria.
Supported by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, this event aims to unite governments, armed forces, policymakers, defense manufacturers, technology innovators, and security professionals to explore technologies, capabilities, and partnerships that are shaping the future of defense and security in Africa.
Focus on Long-Term Resilience
AFRIDEX has been designed as a defense and security platform to foster engagement between public sector decision-makers, military organizations, and industry leaders through curated meeting programs and strategic conferences. With security threats becoming more complex across land, maritime, air, cyber, and space domains, the exhibition offers a forum for developing capabilities, forming partnerships, and enhancing resilience.
General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), the Nigerian Minister of Defense, emphasized that the continent's defense and security priorities will be addressed through African-led initiatives. "Meeting these challenges demands not just coordination, but decisive capability development, stronger interoperability and sustained industrial growth," he stated. Nigeria's hosting of AFRIDEX reflects its commitment to fostering indigenous capacity, continental cooperation, and a secure, self-reliant Africa.
Showcasing Technological Innovations
Exhibitors will showcase cutting-edge technologies across various domains
Industry leaders view AFRIDEX as a vital platform to enhance the visibility of Africa's expanding defense capabilities, offering new opportunities for collaboration, investment, and exports. Major General Abbas (Rtd), Managing Director of Bufalo Engineering, highlighted, "We need an organization like this to bring awareness among African countries of what we are capable of doing."
The exhibition anticipates participation from government officials, military leaders, and technology innovators from around the globe. Exhibitors will showcase cutting-edge technologies across various domains, facilitating direct engagement with military end-users and demonstrating solutions aimed at addressing Africa's changing defense and security needs.
Interactive Platforms and Hosted Delegations
Strategic conferences, industry networking opportunities, and live demonstrations will supplement the exhibition. Rear Admiral S. S. Lassa (Rtd) remarked, "If you are not showing what you have, it is difficult for people to know what you can do." The event will feature discussions on interoperability, operational readiness, and regional cooperation.
Recognizing the significance of cyber resilience, AFRIDEX will include cyber security exhibitors and providers to safeguard critical infrastructure and national security assets. The event aims to bolster Nigeria's defense industrial base while strengthening international partnerships.
Promoting Sovereign Capability Development
Mr. Richard P. Pheelangwah, Permanent Secretary at Nigeria's Ministry of Defense, stated, "AFRIDEX is envisioned as Africa's premier platform for defense cooperation, sovereign capability development, industrial partnership, and the showcasing of emerging technologies that will define the future battlefield." He anticipates the event will foster pivotal discussions and relationships that could redefine the continent's defense landscape.
Registration is open for military personnel, government representatives, industry stakeholders, and media. Those interested are encouraged to mark their calendars for AFRIDEX 2026 in Lagos. The exhibition seeks to establish itself as a cornerstone event in Africa's defense and security sector, promoting sustainable industrial growth and capability development across the continent.
Visitor registration is now open for AFRIDEX 2026, the Africa International Defense 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, defense manufacturers, technology innovators and security professionals to explore the capabilities, technologies and partnerships shaping the future of defense and security across Africa.
Long-term resilience
Designed as a protocol-led defense and security platform, AFRIDEX has been created to accelerate engagement between public sector decision-makers, military organizations 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 Defense, Federal Republic of Nigeria, said: "Africa's defense 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 defense industrial capability
Industry leaders have also welcomed AFRIDEX as an important initiative to raise the profile of Africa's growing defense 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 organization 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 organization like this that is able to showcase companies, enabling them to promote their capabilities and grow their business."
Future defense requirements
AFRIDEX 2026 is expected to bring together government representatives, military leaders, defense ministries, security agencies, industry stakeholders and technology innovators from across Africa and around the world, creating a powerful platform for dialog, 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 defense and security requirements.
The exhibition will also provide a platform for defense technology companies to demonstrate operational capability, engage directly with military end users and showcase the latest innovations supporting future defense 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 defense 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 defense 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 defense 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 defense industrial base while strengthening international cooperation across the sector.
Major General Ibrahim Babatunde Alaya, Director General of the Defense 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 defense, security and technology stakeholders to exchange ideas and showcase cutting-edge innovations.”
“This exhibition is poised to become Africa's premier defense 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 defense manufacturers, ministers of defense, chiefs of defense 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 defense ecosystem while supporting capability development, technology adoption and sustainable industrial growth across the continent.
With visitor registration now open, defense 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 defense and security events.
Sovereign capability development
Mr Richard P. Pheelangwah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defense, 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 defense and security on our continent. AFRIDEX is envisioned as Africa's premier platform for defense 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 defense 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, defense 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, defense manufacturers, technology innovators and security organizations from across Africa and around the world.
