By Chinyere Nnamdi-Anum & Adaora Adibe
The Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, has called for stronger media collaboration with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to amplify the Council’s efforts towards industrial development and the realisation of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Ike-Muonso made the call on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NAN, Mr. Ali M. Ali, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.
The RMRDC DG said the Council had intensified efforts to promote local raw materials development and value addition as a pathway to economic transformation and job creation.
According to him, the Council is championing a bill on raw materials value addition, which seeks to make it mandatory for at least 30% value to be added to Nigeria’s raw materials before they are exported.
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He said the proposed legislation would stimulate industrial growth, create employment opportunities and transform Nigeria’s economic ecosystem.
“The Council is committed to ensuring that Nigeria moves away from the export of raw materials in their primary form to a value-added economy capable of generating wealth and creating jobs for millions of Nigerians,” he said.
Ike-Muonso also highlighted the recent launch of the Nigeria Integrated Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products (NISSRAMP), a comprehensive database designed to improve access to critical raw materials data and accelerate industrial development.
He explained that the platform provides users with extensive information on raw materials, including production levels, geographical distribution, investment opportunities and capacity utilisation.
According to him, the initiative represents a significant milestone in promoting data-driven decision-making and strengthening Nigeria’s industrial sector.
The RMRDC Director-General further disclosed that the Council successfully hosted the maiden Africa Raw Materials Summit (ARMS) in 2025 and is preparing for the second edition scheduled to be held from October 19 to 20, 2026.
He described the summit as a strategic continental platform that brings together manufacturers, industrialists, policymakers, government agencies, financial institutions, development partners and farmers’ groups from across Africa to chart pathways for industrialisation and sustainable wealth creation on the continent. He informed that the theme for this year is ” From African Feedstock to African Feed Factory”.
Ike-Muonso also highlighted other milestones recorded by the Council and urged NAN to leverage its extensive media network to project the Council’s achievements and establish a robust partnership that would advance national development objectives.
Responding, the Managing Director of NAN, Mr. Ali M. Ali, expressed appreciation to the RMRDC Director-General for the visit and pledged the agency’s readiness to work closely with the Council in giving greater visibility to its initiatives.
He commended Ike-Muonso’s transformational leadership and the strides recorded by the Council in promoting local content development and industrial growth.
The high point of the visit was the presentation of a plaque to the RMRDC Director-General by the NAN MD in appreciation of his visit, symbolising the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship between both organisations.
