By Okporie Chima
In a significant step towards enhancing the availability and utilization of local raw materials for industrial production in Ebonyi State, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Ebonyi State Coordinating Office, has forged a strategic partnership with the International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED).
During a courtesy visit to the Centre, the Chief Administrative Officer of RMRDC, Mrs. Philomina N. Nwagu, expressed appreciation to the General Manager of ICEED, Mr. Chibuike Agha Oko, for hosting the RMRDC team. In her remarks, she highlighted the core mandate of the Council, which includes promoting the development and optimal utilization of Nigeria’s raw material resources to foster sustainable industrial growth.
Mrs. Nwagu emphasized that RMRDC’s mission involves facilitating the establishment of resource-based industries, and contributing significantly to the nation’s GDP. The Council also advises the Federal Government on the availability and utilization of raw materials, the implications of their depletion, and strategies for conservation and stockpiling to strengthen the production of made-in-Nigeria goods and many other.
She further explained that under the leadership of its Director General/CEO, Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, the Council has re-enforced commitment to promoting the use of indigenous technologies for raw material processing across the states of the federation.
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According to Mrs. Nwagu, the Council’s activities in Ebonyi State include industrial visits, research collaborations, commodity surveys (price indexing), engagements with the organized private sector, and assessment of production capacities in cottage and cluster industries.
She also mentioned key developments within the Council, including the recent approval for the construction of 17 high-tech laboratories across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. These facilities will empower industries with tools for testing, certification, innovation, and product refinement. Other milestones include the acquisition of an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for real-time, non-destructive analysis of raw materials, as well as legislative progress on a bill mandating a 30% value addition to raw materials before export. The bill has passed the Senate and is awaiting concurrence in the House of Representatives. Furthermore, the Council continues to advocate tax incentives for manufacturers utilizing locally sourced materials.
Responding on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer of ICEED, Engr. Ewah Otu Eleri, Mr. Chibuike Agha Oko welcomed the collaboration, reaffirming ICEED’s commitment to eradicating poverty through energy access and climate security. He noted that ICEED remains Nigeria’s leading institution in energy access and climate change, working in partnership with global resource centres to drive market development, capacity building, project implementation, and behavioral change communication.
Mr. Oko highlighted ICEED’s instrumental role in several national initiatives, including the development of the Renewable Energy Master Plan, the formulation of Nigeria’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, and advocacy for the establishment of the National Climate Change Commission.
“Our core expertise lies in policy reform and market development to expand access to clean energy,” he stated. “While we champion evidence-based advocacy at the national level, we are equally committed to community-level interventions that directly improve lives.”
He, however, raised concerns over the high cost of importing metals used in the fabrication of aluminum products, despite the local availability of key raw materials like clay and kaolin in the Afikpo and Abakaliki areas. The Centre’s product line includes 60-litre and 200-litre stoves, pressure pots, household stoves, ceramic and clay plates, and aluminum cookware.
The partnership between RMRDC and ICEED is poised to further unlock the potential of local resources and technologies, paving the way for sustainable industrial and economic development in Ebonyi State and beyond.
