29 Apr The Africa International Defence Exhibition 2026 to spotlight global defence collaboration

The Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) 2026 will place its International Pavilions at the centre of the event, creating a platform for nations to showcase capability, strengthen partnerships, and engage directly with Africa’s defence and security landscape.

Taking place from 26 – 29 October 2026 at Eko Atlantic in Lagos, AFRIDEX will bring together governments, military leaders, policymakers, and global industry to address shared security challenges and support long-term stability and growth.

Africa is rapidly emerging as one of the world’s most strategically important and fastest-growing defence markets. Rising security challenges, maritime pressures, and the need to modernise ageing military equipment are driving sustained growth in defence spending, with strong expansion projected over the coming decade. This landscape is underpinned by the need for greater regional and international collaboration.

Major General Ibrahim Babatunde Alaya, Director General (DG), Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), said: “Across Africa’s diverse regions, our security challenges are increasingly transnational, and so too must be our response. Lasting stability cannot be achieved in isolation; it demands sustained collaboration between African nations, strengthened by trusted international partnerships. Platforms such as AFRIDEX underscore a shared commitment to security, interoperability, intelligence exchange, and collective capacity building. By aligning our efforts, we safeguard our borders and secure the conditions for economic growth, innovation, and peace across the continent.”

Between 2021 and 2025, The Africa International Defence Exhibition (AFRIDEX) participating nations accounted for 44.3 per cent of Africa’s major arms imports, with the United States supplying 19 per cent, China 17 per cent, and France 8.3 per cent. The United States alone exported major arms to 17 African states during this period.

Odiri Umusu, Director of The Africa International Defence Exhibition, said: “AFRIDEX reflects the growing strategic importance of Africa within the global defence landscape. By bringing together leading international and regional stakeholders through the International Pavilions, the event enables meaningful dialogue, strengthens cooperation, and supports the development of resilient defence and security capabilities across the continent.”