By Oluwaseyi Otitoju and Hembadoon Ode
In a move to bridge the gap between primary agricultural production and industrial processing, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) have agreed to establish a comprehensive collaborative framework aimed at driving agro-industrial value addition, youth empowerment, and national economic growth.
Speaking during the visit, the Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, highlighted the critical need for a synchronized partnership between agricultural research and industrial value addition. Elaborating on the Council’s aggressive drive toward technological advancement, Prof. Ike-Muonso emphasized the significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) RMRDC recently signed with four prominent Chinese research and technology institutions. He noted that this strategic international alliance is further bolstered by an ongoing engagement with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), which is assembling 178 polytechnics across the country to directly benefit from the cutting-edge technologies arriving from China.
Expressing immense enthusiasm for this emerging synergy, the Director-General described the union between RMRDC and ARCN as a vital birth that will hit the ground running, transform raw agricultural materials, and give birth to impactful economic offspring for Nigeria.
The DG further informed ACRN delegation of RMRDC’s Research Demonstration Plant Complex located along Airport Road, Abuja, describing it as a primary fulcrum for practical demonstration, technology incubation, and industrial scaling.
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In his response, the Executive Secretary of ARCN, Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu, thanked the Director-General for his time and hospitality while sharing equal excitement over the collaboration with the Council and the four Chinese research institutions. Prof. Sharubutu explained that ARCN has been tasked with a vital mandate to train Nigerian youths in modern agro-technology and agro-allied handwork. He revealed that explicit directives have been issued from the Presidency for ARCN to certify various specialized training centres across the country, ensuring that graduating students receive world-class practical instruction and recognized certifications that empower them to compete globally.
As part of efforts towards achieving a desired outcome from the collaboration, Prof. Ike-Muonso directed the Director of Legal and Board Services at RMRDC, Mrs. Ngozi Keshi, to make available all relevant details of the agreement with the Chinese institutions to the Executive Secretary of ARCN and his team. This is to ensure clear guidance on strategic areas where ARCN and its extensive network of national agricultural research institutes and colleges can seamlessly integrate.
The Director of the Research Demonstration Plant Complex (RDPC) of RMRDC, Dr. Mrs. Obiageli Okafor, warmly encouraged the Executive Secretary and his team to pay an official visit to the complex. She highlighted that the facility houses about 46 operational pilot plants spanning diverse agro-processing and mineral lines, alongside an ISO-certified laboratory capable of testing and certifying every product developed for both local consumption and international export.
The meeting ended with both organizations expressing strong optimism for the future of Nigeria’s agricultural and industrial landscape. Both Councils agreed to reconvene on a later date to officially sign a Memorandum of Understanding that will clearly spell out the operational modalities of their relationship, setting the stage for a harmonious, result-driven partnership going forward.
