By Ekaette Ebonginuen & Janet Essien
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has renewed its call for increased patronage of made-in-Nigeria products as a strategic pathway to sustainable industrialization and economic growth.
This position was articulated by the RMRDC Akwa-Ibom State Coordinator, Mr. Anietie Akpan, during his goodwill message at the 18th Annual General Meeting and Public Lecture of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Cross River/Akwa Ibom States Branch, held on Monday, 15th December, 2025. The event was organized under the theme, “Buy Nigerian Products: A Path to Sustainable Industrialization Growth.”
Mr. Akpan urged participants to embrace a strong culture of consuming locally manufactured goods, noting that sustained patronage of Nigerian products remains critical to the survival, stability, and growth of the country’s industrial sector. He emphasized that local consumption not only strengthens domestic industries but also creates jobs, enhances value chains, and reduces dependence on imports.
He reaffirmed RMRDC’s continued support for MAN and its activities nationwide, stressing that the Association’s objectives align closely with the Council’s statutory mandate of promoting the development and utilization of local raw materials for industrial growth. In this regard, he restated RMRDC’s firm stance on the 30 per cent value addition policy, which seeks to ensure that at least 30 per cent of Nigeria’s raw materials are processed locally before exportation.
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Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of MAN, Cross River/Akwa Ibom States Branch, Dr. Inalegwu Adoga, described the meeting as both symbolic and timely. He observed that it was convened at a critical period when national discourse on industrialization, economic resilience, and sustainable development has assumed greater urgency amid prevailing economic challenges.
Dr. Adoga underscored the need for coordinated efforts among government agencies, manufacturers, and other stakeholders to strengthen local content development and reposition Nigeria’s industrial sector for competitiveness and long-term growth.
The meeting ended with a collective resolve by participants to deepen industrial capacity, promote local content utilization, and expand opportunities for manufacturers across Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, as well as Nigeria at large, in line with the nation’s broader industrialization and economic development objectives.
