Major General Victor Ezugwu has assumed duty as Director General of Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON).
He takes over from Major General Bamidele Ogunkale.
Speaking at the handing and taking over ceremony at DICON headquarters Kaduna, the out-going DG, General Ogunkale, noted that when he assumed office, there were a myriad of challenges on ground and that he had to choose between maintaining the status-quo without rocking the boat or riding against the tide to make a difference.
According to him, his modest achievement in office was predicated on adoption of the philosophy of the candle stick which, he noted, gives light to its environment while it burns itself out, stressing that he made series of personal sacrifices in his deliberate efforts to take DICON to an enviable height.
He said he made deliberate efforts to harness the potentials of various directorates as well as synergizing the activities of all sectors for improved and efficient service delivery.
Gen Ogunkale further disclosed that when he took over the mantle of leadership in DICON, the level of efficiency of most of the machines at the Ordnance Factory were rated below 10 percent which implied dim hope for resumption of production activities, adding that with unwavering commitment with the management team, the efficiency level of the machines was raised to 90 percent bench mark.
He said he was quite optimistic that General Ezugwu, the new DG who sees him as a mentor, would sustain the tempo of success stories emanating from the corporation.
In his remark, the new DG noted that the experience he has garnered in the last 30 years would enable him deliver on the mandate of taking DICON to the next level.
General Ezugwu who was posted to DICON from the Nigerian Army Vehicle Manufacturing Company Kaduna said, “My tour of duty in DICON will be focusing majorly on local contents. I believe Nigeria has vast human and material resources which if well harnessed we can push our foreign partners or suppliers out of business in the country’s huge market.”
He stressed the need for making local content the corporation’s focus and charged the management team to show good example as well as promoting team spirit as these would make their subordinates to fall in line.”
He thanked Gen Ogunkale for the good leadership quality he had shown while he served, stressing that he left DICON better than he met it. He promised to sustain the good legacy left behind.