By Chuks Ngaha, Oluwaseyi Otitoju
The Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, has reiterated his commitment to advancing a vibrant circular economy for Nigeria and Africa at large. According to him, sustainable development can only be achieved by repurposing waste and ensuring that no material goes unused.
In recognition of his strong advocacy for circularity, the Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) presented two plastic waste receptacles on Thursday 26th June at the Council’s headquarters in Abuja. The gesture aims to encourage a culture of in-house waste segregation at RMRDC, contributing to the larger waste recycling ecosystem coordinated by DBN across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Speaking on behalf of DBN, the Head of Sustainability Lola Awogbade stated that the bank is donating plastic receptacles to organizations in the Maitama District and other parts of Abuja to promote proper waste segregation. “This initiative will make it easier for recyclers to sort plastic waste efficiently and convert it into useful raw materials for new products,” she explained.
The receptacles were formally received by a delegation of RMRDC Directors, including the Director of the Directorate of Corporate Affairs (DCA), Mr. Chukwuma Ngaha; the Director of the Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals Department (CPD), Mr. A. Kollere; and the Overseeing Director of the Minerals and Materials Department (MMDD).
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Speaking on behalf of the Director-General, Mr. Ngaha described waste management as a crucial part of the fourth industrial revolution, which includes circularity, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and sustainable resource use. He noted that Professor Ike-Muonso views every raw material—whether primary, secondary, or tertiary—as having value at various levels of industrial development. He praised DBN’s initiative as a timely step towards building awareness and capacity for plastic recycling in Abuja.
In his remarks, Mr. Kollere highlighted the DG’s efforts to establish a Centre for Circularity at the Council’s Research and Demonstration Plant Complex (RDPC). He noted that the Centre will serve as the first formal training hub for practitioners in the waste recycling sector. “This initiative further demonstrates the Director-General’s resolve to drive raw materials development through innovation and capacity building,” he added.
