By Adibe Adaora and Abdulrahman Nafisat
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has held the 10th and last edition of its lecture series for the year 2025, marking the close of the national conversation on innovation, industrial competitiveness and raw materials development for the year after commencing in August.
The lecture, titled “Leveraging Technology Acquisition and Indigenous Innovation to Optimize Nigeria’s Raw Materials Supply Chain,” was delivered by the former Director General of the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP), Engr. Umar B. Bindir, PhD, the Babban Mufti of Adamawa Emirate.
In his lecture, Engr. Bindir highlighted that Nigeria’s rich raw materials and human capital have not translated into development because the country’s education system, infrastructure, and industrial policies are weak, making it difficult for innovations to move from the lab to the market. He cited examples of communities where people have never seen basic amenities like electricity or running water, despite Nigeria’s abundant resources.
He also spoke about agriculture, saying the sector still relies heavily on manual methods. He noted that even though Nigeria has thousands of professors, crops like cassava and groundnut are still harvested and processed by hand. This, he said, is evidence that research is not reaching farmers, industries, or communities that need it.
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He emphasized that Nigeria must intensify technology acquisition and promote indigenous innovation if it intends to achieve a reliable, competitive, and sustainable raw materials supply chain. He stressed that indigenous solutions when backed by deliberate investments in research, skills, and infrastructure can significantly reduce import dependence, strengthen local production, and support Nigeria’s industrialization drive.
The Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike- Muonso, in his remarks commended Engr. Bindir for his passion and deep commitment to technological advancement in Nigeria while noting that the presentation aligned strongly with the Council’s current direction.
He said with the 30 percent value addition bill awaiting and eventually receiving presidential assent, Nigeria’s immediate challenge will be the availability and application of technology for processing raw materials. He stressed that effective value addition will depend largely on access to appropriate machinery and technological capacity, noting that strengthening processing capabilities is critical to driving industrial growth and maximizing the country’s raw materials potential.
Meanwhile, the Overseeing Director of the Directorate of Corporate Affairs (DCA), Mr. Muhammad Mukhtar commended the Lecture Series for promoting knowledge transfer and professional development within the Council. He praised the DG’s leadership and the insightful contributions of the guest speaker, while calling for the strengthening and expansion of the series. He noted that the session marked his final Lecture Series appearance before retirement, expressing gratitude to his team for their support and cooperation.
The initiator and coordinator of the RMRDC Lecture Series, Prof. John John expressed gratitude to the DG for supporting the platform from conception up to its 10th edition. He highlighted the DG’s consistency in attending each session, even joining virtually when other engagements made physical presence impossible. He noted that this commitment underscores the DG’s belief in continuous learning and knowledge transfer within the Council.
The coordinator of the Lecture Series referenced the previous lecture, delivered by Overseeing Director, Research Plant and Demonstrate Complex (RPDC), RMRDC, Dr. Mrs. Fausta I. Ogubefi on “Agility and Customer Centricity: Future-Proofing Supply Chain with Intelligent Design and Adaptive Supply Network,” explaining that the Lecture Series has evolved into a hub for staff to present departmental work, engage experts, and deepen understanding of science, technology, and innovation within the raw materials ecosystem.
The Lecture Series 2025 featured notable professionals who delivered insightful topics such as From Raw Materials to Finished Products: Exploring Vertical Integration Models by Dr. Kazeem Abubakar; Leveraging Technology: ICT, AI, and Blockchain in Supply Chain Resource Management by Prof. Ngang Bassey Ngang; and A Comparative Analysis of the Raw Materials Sector in Emerging Economies by Prof. Michael Adikwu, among others. The series served as an intellectual platform designed to promote dialogue and policy discussions on raw materials development and utilization in Nigeria, while preparing the Council for key initiatives such as the 30 percent value addition bill awaiting presidential assent. It also supports the implementation of incentives for research institutions and local industries, reflecting RMRDC’s commitment to innovation, policy guidance, and stronger collaboration among academia, industry, and government.
