By Adaora Adibe and Nafisat Abdulrahman
As part of its continuous efforts to foster knowledge exchange and promote sustainable industrial growth, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has successfully held another edition of its Lecture Series titled “Lessons from Brazil, India, and South Africa: Policy Approaches to Raw Material Development”.
The lecture, held on 2nd October 2025, featured, a distinguished Chartered Accountant and public finance expert, Kazeem Adewale Oyewole, who currently serves as Assistant Director in the Department of Treasury Single Account (TSA) at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.
In his presentation, Mr. Oyewole examined policy models adopted by Brazil, India, and South Africa in advancing their raw material development agendas. He provided a comparative analysis of each country’s experience, drawing out key insights relevant to Nigeria’s policy environment.
Highlighting key takeaways for Nigeria, Mr. Oyewole noted that one of the most important lessons from the Brazilian model lies in its balance between innovation and sustainability. He explained that “the Brazilian model demonstrates unparalleled effectiveness but emphasizes the non-negotiable need to entrench strong environmental and social safeguards from the very beginning of any transformative agricultural policy.”
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Speaking on India’s approach, Mr. Oyewole drew attention to the India coercion model and the Kabil-Argentina deal, describing them as examples of how policy enforcement and strategic partnerships can drive industrial growth. He explained that “India’s model proves the power of a strong policy ‘stick,’ but its success is contingent on the ‘carrots’ of strategic support and effective, coordinated implementation across different levels of government.”
Turning to South Africa, Mr. Oyewole discussed South Africa’s Mining Charter III, noting their relevance to Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen local participation in resource-based industries. He explained that “South Africa was included as an example of a mature mining economy with a sophisticated regulatory framework designed to maximize national benefit. Its Mining Charter and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) policies offer critical insights into designing legally enforceable local content targets, supplier development programs, and skills policies that Nigeria can adapt to ensure local participation and benefit retention.”
He further emphasized the need for Nigeria to strengthen its policy frameworks to support local industries, enhance competitiveness, and ensure effective utilization of the country’s abundant raw materials.
Mr. Iyewole commended the Council for the amendment bill before the House of Representatives on the 30 percent value addition for raw materials before export, describing it as a right step. He tailored his lecture towards the next step and challenges that the implementation of the bill could bring about.
“Upgrading raw materials to finished products is not spontaneous, it is not automatic. It requires conscious coordination to succeed,” he stated. He added that “mandate without supporting ecosystem leads to failure,” while speaking on why Nigeria has been having failed policies and emphasizing the need for a new approach.
Earlier, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Professor Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso, who was present during the lecture, emphasized the importance of continuous learning and knowledge exchange.
“You don’t build capacity from the air; you have to sit down and build capacity by sharing experiences, by learning from others. You will know what you have never known before,” the DG stated. He shared personal experiences to reinforce the point, noting that many officers were not fully taking advantage of the lecture series.
He further added that “you have to expose yourself to the opportunity to build capacity.”
The RMRDC Lecture Series continues to serve as a platform for sharing knowledge, research insights, and practical policy experiences among experts and stakeholders in the raw materials and industrial sectors. Through such engagements, the Council reinforces its commitment to fostering innovation, collaboration, and national development.
