By Stella Azi and Adaora Adibe
The Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST), Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, has conducted an official tour of the Research and Demonstration Complex of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), with a strong emphasis on the need for private sector collaboration and commercialization drive.
Speaking during the tour of the complex situated at Obasanjo Space Centre, Airport Road, Abuja on March 24, 2026, the Minister said the visit is a demonstration of Government’s renewed commitment to accelerating Nigeria’s industrialisation through innovation and commercialisation driven initiatives and effective utilization of local raw materials.
The Minister inspected key facilities within the Technology Complex, including pilot plants and processing units that demonstrate value addition across diverse raw material value chains. The tour covered the Antemesia Laboratory, POP, Lovastatin, hydrated lime, talc, and calcined kaolin pilot plants, as well as the Plants Workshop and the Tropics Derma Training Centre, all located within the complex.
Dr. Udeh highly commended the RMRDC’s remarkable achievements at the complex, noting that there is a critical need to transition from pilot-scale operations to full industrial uptake of the technology. He stressed the importance of strengthening partnerships with the private sector to ensure the sustainability and scalability of innovations developed by the Council, noting that private sector involvement remains vital in bridging the gap between research and market deployment. He said that government alone cannot drive industrial growth without active industry participation.
You Might AlsoLike
The Hon.Minister further pointed out that research findings and innovations must be effectively commercialized and taken up by industries to achieve meaningful economic impact. He therefore called for deliberate frameworks that will attract investors, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs to leverage the technologies developed within the RMRDC Technology Complex.
Highlighting the need for upscaling plant capacity across the Council’s facilities, the Dr. Udeh said that increased production capability would enhance the competitiveness of locally developed products. According to him, scaling up operations is essential for meeting market demands, reducing reliance on imports, and positioning Nigeria as a hub for processed raw materials.
In his remarks, the Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, who stressed the need for an effective law on ground to ensure value addition to raw materials produced locally before export, reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to driving industrial policies and development through research and innovation. He noted that the Technology Complex serves as a platform for demonstrating viable technologies and facilitating linkages between researchers and industry players.
He assured the Minister that the Council is actively working to strengthen industry collaborations, improve production processes, and promote the uptake of its innovations by relevant stakeholders.
The Minister who departed the complex highly impressed with the level of project available at the site thanked the DG RMRDC Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso alongside the management team who participated in the tour; Director, Agriculture and Agro Alied Raw Materials Department, Dr. Seb Eberiekwe; Director Chemicals and Pharmaceutical Department, Mr. A Kollere; Director Information and Communication Department, Mr. Gimba; Director Planning, and Policy Department, Mrs. Giwa Osagie; Director DCA, Mrs. C. Nnamdi-Anum, and many other directors as well as staff in attendance. He also pledged to make another visit, where he will take time to see the operations of all the pilot plants in the vicinity.
