By Aliyu Muhammed
The Zamfara State Coordinating Office of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has initiated discussions with the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gusau on a proposed collaboration to establish a raw materials and products testing and certification centre in the state.
The RMRDC delegation, led by the State Coordinator, Mr. Gambo Yaro Muhammad and his team, paid a working visit to the institution in Gusau on April 20, 2026. The team was received by the College Librarian, Malam Abubakar Chika Galadima, before proceeding to a meeting with the Provost, Professor Surajo Muhammad Galubba.
Briefing the management, Muhammad said the visit was aimed at exploring a viable partnership for the establishment of a testing and certification laboratory, in line with the provisions of the RMRDC (Amendment) Act, 2022, as well as the proposed 30% value addition policy currently awaiting presidential assent.
He noted that the Council has already established a national Raw Materials and Products Testing Laboratory located in Abuja. According to him, the facility has attained ISO certification is equipped with modern, state-of-the-art equipment to provide testing and certification services for manufacturers, researchers, and other stakeholders in the raw materials value chain.
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Muhammad appealed to the college management to allocate space for a proposed RMRDC Centre for Raw Materials Testing and Certification within the institution, noting that it would be the first of its kind in Nigeria’s North-West region.
In his response, the Provost, Professor Galubba, expressed the college’s readiness to collaborate with the Council, emphasizing that the initiative aligns with the institution’s mandate to promote research, development, and the utilization of Nigeria’s natural resources.
He affirmed that the college would support efforts to advance the proposed value addition policy and enhance local processing of agro and mineral resources, stressing that no institution can operate in isolation.
Also speaking, the College Registrar, Mr. Muhammad Adamu Bungudu, commended the RMRDC team for the visit and called for clarity on the financial implications of the project. He disclosed that the proposal would be presented to the National Council for Colleges of Education for further consideration.
On his part, the Bursar, Dr. Mutiu Bakare, described the proposed centre as a unique opportunity for the institution and the region. He added that the facility would serve both as a research hub and a training centre, particularly for artisanal miners in Zamfara State and the wider North-West, known for gold and other mineral resources.
He noted that the centre would contribute significantly to value addition efforts and local economic development.
The meeting ended with both parties expressing optimism about the prospects of the partnership and its potential impact on research, industrial growth, and community development in the region.
