By Isa Mukhtar
Inline with efforts of promoting the industrial development of Yobe State, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) Yobe State Coordinating Office Damaturu, in collaboration with the Yobe State Government, organized a One-day investors’ forum aimed at developing the Trona value chain in the State. The event which was held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at the Cedars Shopping and Recreation Damaturu, Yobe State, had the theme, “Trona to Triumph: Empowering Industries and Communities.”
Declaring the forum open, the Executive Governor of Yobe State, His Excellency Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON, represented by the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry, Tourism, and Solid Minerals, Hon. Kaigama Umar, emphasized the forum’s significance in unlocking the economic potential of Trona. He said, “The forum is not just a gathering of stakeholders but a testament to the state Government’s collective commitment to harnessing and unlocking the potentials of the State’s natural resources to drive inclusive and sustainable economic growth.” He also highlighted the administration’s commitment to fostering local and international investment opportunities, particularly in the exploitation of natural resources to boost job creation and industrial development.
The Governor also said that, “Yobe State is blessed with a significant deposit of Trona, a vital industrial mineral used in the production of glass, soap, detergents, and other household and industrial products. The growing global demand for Trona positions Yobe State as a strategic hub for mining and processing investments around Trona.”
He further reiterated that as a Government, his administration is committed to providing a conducive environment for investment, policies designed to ensure ease of doing business, transparency, and accountability. The Governor assured participants at the event that his administration is working closely with the Federal Government and relevant agencies to provide necessary infrastructure and support for mineral exploration, processing and export opportunities for investment around the raw material.
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The Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso, represented by the Overseeing Director of the State Industrial Extension Services Department (SIESD), Dr. (Mrs.) Edith Chibuzor Obi, in his welcome address underscored the Council’s dedication to the development and utilization of local raw materials for industrial purposes in the state. He reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to research and innovation to overcome challenges in the manufacturing sector.
The Director-General urged participants to invest in the State’s rich Trona deposits, emphasizing its potential to serve as the Cornerstone of Yobe’s industrialization. He said, the forum brings together State Government Officials, Policy Formulators, Academia, Development Economists, Captains of Industries, SMEs, People and Local Government Officials from the Trona Areas.
Prof. Ike-Muonso further highlighted the 30% value addition on Raw Materials bill which has passed its second reading in the National Assembly. Saying the bill aims to ensure that no raw material is exported out of Nigeria without at least 30% processing. This bill, he said is a bold step towards reducing Nigeria’s reliance on exporting raw materials, creating jobs and increasing national income.
The D.G. also used the opportunity to invite relevant stakeholders to participate in the forthcoming African Raw Materials Summit, taking place from 20th to 22nd of May 2025, at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
Speaking at the event, the RMRDC Yobe State Coordinator, Chief Accountant, Mr Sani Musa, highlighted the forum’s objective of promoting applied research and fostering collaboration between researchers, government, and the private sector to commercialize raw materials and strengthen the industrial sector as he expressed appreciation to the Yobe State Government and other dignitaries present at the event.
