By Okporie Chima
To strengthen local industries and encourage the use of indigenous raw materials for production, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Ebonyi State Coordinating Office, has entered into a strategic partnership with Green and Trees Farms and Machines Limited (GTFML).
The collaboration aims to harness the abundant raw materials available in Ebonyi State for value-added production, research, and commercialization.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to GTFML, the Chief Administrative Officer of RMRDC, Mrs. Nwagu Philomina Ngozi, commended the company’s commitment to local sourcing and innovation. She emphasized the Council’s drive, under the leadership of Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso, to foster synergy between industries and research institutions in order to promote value addition and reduce dependency on imported raw materials.
“Our visit today is to express appreciation for your leadership in SME development in Ebonyi State and explore new areas of collaboration, especially in value addition and commercialization through local raw materials,” Mrs. Nwagu stated.
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She revealed that the Council has received Federal approval through the Ministry of Finance to implement tax incentives targeting industries utilizing locally sourced minerals. She also highlighted the recent passage of the Raw Materials Bill by the National Assembly, mandating 30% value addition, an initiative aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s manufacturing sector.
Mrs. Nwagu praised GTFML for its consistent use of local raw materials in production processes and noted that the new incentives would encourage more industrialists to invest in research, local talent, and Nigerian-sourced inputs, thereby strengthening the value chain and generating economic opportunities.
Responding, GTFML General Manager, Mr. Ikenna Okah, welcomed the Council’s team and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to deepening its use of local raw materials. He lauded RMRDC’s sensitization efforts, which have helped industries identify viable raw materials for production.
“No raw material is a waste,” Mr. Okah said, citing the example of how palm kernel shells are repurposed in his company to power boilers and produce export-grade charcoal briquettes. He described the production process, which involves collecting burnt shells, mixing them with cassava-based binders, and shaping them into briquettes ready for the market.
He also disclosed that GTFML has acquired equipment to enable the local fabrication of machines, further enhancing its self-reliance. The company currently produces items such as tissue paper, toothpicks, pure groundnut oil, nails, and iron hangers.
According to Mr. Okah, “It is time for local industrialists to excel,” noting that GTFML is prepared to take full advantage of the tax incentive programme once implemented.
He added that the company is intensifying its investment in agriculture, particularly poultry, piggery, and plant cultivation using hydroponic technology. Highlighting its advantages, Mr. Okah said hydroponics conserves water, reduces land use, boosts food production, and offers a sustainable alternative to traditional farming methods, especially in urban or water-scarce areas.
The partnership is expected to serve as a model for similar initiatives across Nigeria, promoting sustainable industrial development through the strategic use of locally sourced raw materials.
