By Abdullahi Bala
As part of efforts to strengthen local economic development through structured value-addition, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has commenced formal engagement with the Zamfara State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to facilitate the creation of resource centres in every Local Government Area of the state.
The engagement followed a courtesy visit by an RMRDC delegation led by the Zamfara State Coordinator, Mr. Y. M. Hayatu, in response to the Ministry’s acknowledgment of an earlier request by the Council seeking collaboration and the allocation of space for resource display centres.
During the meeting, Mr. Hayatu emphasized the need to strategically reposition Zamfara State’s abundant agricultural and mineral resources through structured value addition and local processing. He noted that crops such as sorghum, millet, and wheat, as well as livestock products like kilishi, possess significant potential for transformation into finished goods capable of generating higher income, stimulating enterprise development, and creating employment opportunities, particularly for youth.
Receiving the delegation, the Director of Planning at the Ministry, Mr. Murtala Yusuf, acknowledged the immense economic opportunities inherent in Zamfara’s local raw materials. He explained that relatively simple processing interventions could convert primary produce into commercially competitive products, including animal feed, flour, packaged porridge mixes, pasta, and ready-to-market snacks. According to him, local communities stand to gain greater economic value by processing their produce internally rather than supplying raw materials to external markets where profits are often realized downstream.
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Mr. Yusuf further noted that strengthening value chains at the local government level would contribute to poverty reduction, job creation, and improved local economic activity, while also supporting efforts to address insecurity by expanding livelihood opportunities. He stressed the importance of patriotism and local ownership to ensure that Zamfara State benefits optimally from its natural endowments.
Both parties agreed on the need to develop a comprehensive and costed implementation plan to guide the establishment of resource dispatch and research centres across the LGAs. The proposed plan is expected to align with ongoing World Bank–supported agricultural investment and business reform programmes, while also incorporating stakeholder sensitization activities targeting traditional rulers, local government chairmen, farmers, processors, and other key actors.
The Ministry expressed its readiness to collaborate with RMRDC on outreach and advocacy visits across the LGAs to build stakeholder buy-in and demonstrate the socio-economic benefits of the initiative. Discussions also explored the possibility of piloting targeted agricultural projects, similar to previous seed multiplication initiatives, to accelerate impact in selected communities.
