By Ekaette Ebonginuen & Janet Essien
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Akwa Ibom State Coordinating Office, has reaffirmed its commitment to the sustainable development of Nigeria’s oil palm industry through strategic support for cooperative and cluster model formation. This was demonstrated during its participation in a one-day capacity-building workshop organized by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) on October 8, 2025, at De Castle Luxury Home Annex, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo.
The workshop, themed “Development of Palm Oil and its Value Chain for Export through Cooperatives and Cluster Model,” brought together key stakeholders in the oil palm value chain, including government agencies, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, and farmers’ cooperatives. The event served as a sensitization and training platform aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of palm oil from Akwa Ibom State in international markets.
Delivering a goodwill message at the event, the RMRDC’s Akwa Ibom State Coordinator, Mr. A.J. Akpan, applauded the NEPC for organizing the workshop. He emphasized the importance of leveraging cooperative societies and the cluster model as a proven strategy for strengthening the oil palm value chain. According to him, this approach would enhance productivity, ensure quality control, and improve access to finance and markets for smallholder farmers and processors.
Mr. Akpan also highlighted a key policy direction of the Council, requiring a minimum of 30% value addition on raw materials before they can qualify for export. He urged stakeholders to align their practices with this initiative to boost local processing capacity and improve Nigeria’s position in the global market.
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The workshop featured technical sessions from sector experts. Madam Ogumo Okpo of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) presented on “Quality Parameters for Palm Oil Export,” outlining regulatory standards and best practices for export readiness.
In another presentation, Mr. Etima Usanga, Director of Tree Crops at the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, addressed “Ensuring Quality Standards in Oil Palm Production: Post-Harvest Handling and Traceability.” He stressed the critical need for quality assurance mechanisms across the value chain to meet international market requirements.
Mr. Fidelis Inyang of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) briefed participants on financing options available to farmers and agro-entrepreneurs, emphasizing loan products tailored to oil palm production and processing expansion.
The RMRDC reiterated its support for initiatives that promote innovation, value addition, and stakeholder collaboration in Nigeria’s agro-industrial sectors. The Council encouraged participants to fully engage with the training sessions and apply the knowledge gained to strengthen their operational capacity and export readiness.
