With drones in the sky, innovation on the ground, and a bold vision for indigenous defence capability, Dr. Bright Echefu is emerging as one of Nigeria’s most transformative entrepreneurs — blending technological excellence with national purpose.
Earlier this week, Dr. Echefu, Chairman of EIB Group and the revolutionary Briech UAS, hosted top editors and senior journalists from Abuja to a high-level media parley and guided tour of his ultra-modern defence-tech facility. The event was both strategic and symbolic: a showcase of homegrown innovation and a declaration of readiness to redefine Nigeria’s defence narrative.
In April 2025, Dr. Echefu made national headlines when Briech UAS, in collaboration with the Nigerian military, unveiled Africa’s first large-scale, locally produced attack drones, bombs, and surveillance equipment — a game-changer in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism and insecurity. That historic unveiling was attended by top defence stakeholders, including Gen. Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, the Governor of Plateau State, the Inspector General of Police, and officials from the DSS and Ministry of Defence.
“Nigeria cannot afford to keep importing safety. We must build it here. And that’s what we’re doing — boldly, locally, and transparently,”
— Dr. Bright Echefu
Dr. Echefu is not just building machines — he’s building systems, industries, and sovereign capacity. He sits atop a growing conglomerate that includes four subsidiaries, such as the rebranded Luft CV (formerly Matthias CV) and an advanced automobile production company, all geared toward local manufacturing and industrial self-reliance.
Described as a leader par excellence, Dr. Echefu represents a new generation of entrepreneurs who fuse economic ambition with patriotic duty, especially in sectors vital to Nigeria’s future.
During the media interaction, he called for stronger government backing of indigenous defence manufacturers, stating that jamming systems, drone countermeasures, and battlefield analytics are the future of warfare — and Nigeria must be in front.
“The use of commercial drones by insurgents presents serious risks to our forces. But with drone detection, jamming systems, and local intelligence solutions, we can defend smarter, faster, and cheaper,”
— Dr. Bright Echefu
General Musa, present at the April unveiling, emphasized that these homegrown defence solutions are critical in an era of asymmetric warfare and complex procurement politics:
“If you don’t produce what you need, you are at the mercy of others — even when you can afford it,” the Defence Chief stated.
In line with that vision, President Bola Tinubu’s 2025 Budget of Restoration allocated ₦4.91 trillion to defence and security, the highest single line item — a move that further validates the push for local manufacturing, research collaboration, and self-sufficiency.
Dr. Echefu believes Nigeria already has the technical expertise and industrial base to reduce reliance on foreign defence imports. His facilities are integrating real-time satellite intelligence, drone surveillance dashboards, and autonomous systems for tactical advantage.
“We’re not just building equipment — we’re building insight. Our systems offer at-a-glance battlefield intelligence, allowing better command decisions and resource allocation,” he noted.
His goal is clear: build force multipliers for Nigeria’s security agencies, create jobs across sectors, and position Nigeria as an African hub for military and defence innovation.
With opposition and online distortion creeping into public discourse, Dr. Echefu’s team has begun a coordinated media strategy to correct the record and amplify his impact. Platforms like Nairaland, long used to shape national perception, are being monitored for misinformation as part of an underground media engagement effort.
“We don’t just want to be heard — we want to be understood. We’re building the future of this country, and that story must be told the right way,”
— EIB Media Officer
Dr. Bright Echefu is not just a businessman — he’s a tech patriot, a builder of futures, and a strategic mind who sees beyond profits to purpose. His work in defence, mobility, and technology is giving Nigeria not just tools — but hope.
One Abuja-based editor who attended the tour captured the mood best: “This man is not playing. He’s building what other countries beg to import.”
Indeed, Dr. Bright Echefu is helping to craft a new Nigeria — one that secures itself, builds for itself, and believes in itself.