By Abdullahi Bala
In a renewed drive to strengthen institutional collaboration, the Zamfara State Coordinating Office of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has hosted the Desk Officer for RMRDC–Federal University Gusau (FUGUS), Prof. Yahaya Al-Hassan, at its office in Gusau. The visit marks a significant milestone in advancing joint efforts between both institutions, reinforcing their commitment to enhancing raw materials testing, certification, and value-addition initiatives in Zamfara State and the wider region.
During the visit, Prof. Yahaya Al-Hasan held a comprehensive and engaging discussion with the State Coordinator and the technical team on the Council’s ongoing national mandate to identify functional laboratories capable of supporting raw materials testing and certification. He acknowledged previous communications and developments regarding the assessment of FUGUS laboratories and commended RMRDC for its proactive efforts in ensuring that tertiary institutions remain integral to Nigeria’s value addition agenda.
Prof. Al-Hasan emphasized the readiness of the university’s laboratory to support the Council’s testing operations, expressing confidence in its capacity. “Our capabilities may even surpass what RMRDC expects. We are prepared to demonstrate full capacity once we receive the list of raw materials to begin with,” he stated.
As part of the discussions, Prof. Al-Hasan formally requested the list of raw materials that RMRDC intends to prioritize under the new collaboration phase. He explained that accessing the list would enable the university to assess and map out its laboratory strengths, identify analytical pathways, mobilize relevant academic and technical personnel, and prepare a capability statement aligned with RMRDC standards. He reiterated the commitment of Federal University Gusau to supporting national development goals, especially with the emerging demand for raw materials testing as Nigeria moves toward mandatory 30 percent value addition before export.
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The State Coordinator Mr. Y.M Hayatu expressed appreciation for the visit, describing it as timely, strategic, and highly encouraging, especially as RMRDC intensifies efforts to expand its network of credible raw materials testing partners. With the support of the technical officer, the State Coordinator made the list of raw materials available to the visiting team on the spot, enabling FUGUS to commence its internal assessment and readiness audit immediately.
The visit concluded with a mutual agreement to institutionalize a structured collaboration framework between RMRDC Zamfara and the Federal University Gusau, a move expected to significantly boost industrial research, improve laboratory capacity utilisation, and enhance value addition outcomes across the state.
