By Chinyere Nnamdi-Anum
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and the Micro Sector Development Initiative (MISEDI) have strengthened their efforts to promote women’s economic empowerment and inclusive industrial growth through strategic collaboration and support for local value addition.
The commitment was reaffirmed during a courtesy visit by a delegation of MISEDI, a coalition of women leaders and entrepreneurs, to the headquarters of the RMRDC in Abuja on Tuesday.
The delegation, led by Mrs. Bosede Etiokpa and Mrs. Ijeoma Nwaorah, was received by the Director-General of the RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso, who was honoured as Patron of MISEDI in recognition of his commitment to inclusive development and women’s empowerment.
Presenting a commemorative plaque to the Director-General, Mrs Etiokpa commended Prof. Ike-Muonso’s leadership and reaffirmed the group’s support for the proposed 30% Value Addition Bill currently before the National Assembly.
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According to her, the legislation is critical to Nigeria’s industrial transformation as it seeks to encourage local processing and value addition to the country’s abundant raw materials.
“We believe the future of Nigeria’s economy lies in our ability to process and add value to our raw materials locally. Our network of women entrepreneurs is fully committed to advocating for the passage and implementation of this bill,” she said.
Mrs. Nwaorah also highlighted the transformative impact of the proposed legislation on women entrepreneurs and the nation’s industrial sector, stressing that greater local processing would create jobs and expand opportunities for small and medium-scale enterprises.
The MISEDI leaders further outlined the organisation’s capacity-building initiatives, which include training programmes in product development, business management, digital marketing and financial literacy aimed at equipping women entrepreneurs with practical skills and enhancing their participation in the manufacturing and raw materials sectors.
They noted that the organisation has also established partnerships with development finance institutions, including the Bank of Industry, to facilitate access to funding for women-owned businesses.
According to the group, these interventions have enabled many women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses, create employment opportunities and penetrate export markets.
Responding, Prof. Ike-Muonso commended MISEDI’s efforts, noting that the organisation’s programmes align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises women’s inclusion in economic development.
“The work you are doing is not just commendable but essential. It gives practical expression to the President’s commitment to building an economy where no one is left behind, especially our women,” he said.
The Director-General also urged MISEDI to extend its capacity-building and mentorship programmes to female officers of the Council who are approaching retirement, to enable them to prepare for life after public service.
He emphasised the need to equip retiring female workers with entrepreneurial and business skills that would guarantee financial independence and sustained productivity beyond their years in service.
In response, Mrs. Etiokpa pledged that MISEDI would incorporate pre-retirement training into its programmes to support women transitioning from public service into entrepreneurship and other productive ventures.
The visit ended with both organisations expressing optimism that their partnership would contribute significantly to advancing women’s economic participation, promoting value addition and supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation agenda.
