By Oluwaseyi Otitoju and Nafisat Abdulrahman
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has reinforced its commitment to accountability and results driven performance through a two-day capacity building training workshop on Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) for staff of the M&E unit and designated focal officers. The training held from Thursday, March 26 to Friday, March 27, 2026, at the Council’s headquarters.
Declaring the event open, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of RMRDC, Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, emphasized the critical role of monitoring and evaluation in ensuring transparency, effective resource utilization, and measurable impact across the Council’s programmes and projects.
Reflecting on his experience since assuming office, the Director-General noted that several projects previously executed by the Council lacked clear outcomes, which resulted in difficulties in tracking fund utilization and identifying tangible results.
He disclosed that earlier, M&E efforts within the Council had become ineffective, stressing that such a vital function can only succeed when properly structured and given the required authority. According to him, this informed the decision to place the M&E unit directly under the Office of the Director-General to strengthen oversight and ensure alignment with the Council’s objectives.
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Professor Ike-Muonso further observed that despite the implementation of high-impact projects in the previous year, it was in some cases difficult to determine where resources were deployed to and what outcomes were achieved. He said that the reality is that, “It’s a struggle to find out what has been done or to show where the resources have been expended.”
He stressed that monitoring and evaluation goes beyond programme implementation, noting that all aspects of the Council’s operations, including procurement processes, must be properly tracked to ensure efficiency and accountability.
The Director-General explained that the renewed focus on M&E is aimed at ensuring that efforts are properly monitored, aligned with set objectives, and supported by feedback mechanisms to improve performance going forward.
Group Photograph session of participants and resource persons at the training.
Charging members of the M&E unit, he described them as central to the Council’s operations and tasked them with ensuring that all activities, including those of the leadership, are aligned with stated goals.
“What I am setting up is a team that will now look at me and what I do, to know how they align with what I said I was going to achieve and see where we make mistakes and tell us.”
He added that the unit carries significant responsibility and must rise to the task of strengthening accountability across the Council.
Professor Ike-Muonso also expressed appreciation to the resource persons and participants, describing the programme as a significant initiative that should be given the attention it deserves, noting that its objective is to build capacity and equip staff with the skills required to effectively implement M&E practices.
The training featured a series of modules designed to equip participants with practical and analytical skills necessary for effective monitoring and evaluation. These included Introduction to the Theory of Change, Building a Theory of Change and its application to the RMRDC organisational environment, case studies and group exercises, as well as critiquing and refining Theory of Change models.
Other sessions focused on Designing logical models, Hands-on modelling exercises, and Integrating Theory of Change with logical models within the Council’s operational framework.
The sessions were highly interactive, combining lectures with practical assignments and class exercises to ensure participants were fully engaged. Facilitators emphasized both theoretical understanding and real-life applications, enabling participants to develop practical skills in designing and implementing effective M&E frameworks.
The resource persons for the training included a Consultant for the RMRDC, Dr. Kemjika Ajoku, and the Executive Director, Centre for Development and Corporate Responsibility, Mr. Emmanuel Evbodaghe guided participants through the sessions and hands-on exercises. Their commitment and expertise ensured a rich and impactful learning experience for all attendees.
At the close of the training, the Deputy Director, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, Mr. K. Abiola, described the programme as more than just a training. He said it was an empowerment initiative designed to strengthen the Council’s operational effectiveness.
According to him, monitoring and evaluation is a critical management tool that must be structured to effectively track programmes and projects within the Council.
He noted that the inclusion of focal officers from various departments, directorates, and units was deliberate, as it is expected that participants will cascade the knowledge gained to their respective areas of operation.
Mr. Abiola explained that the selected focal officers would serve as key points of contact for the M&E unit in engaging with different departments, ensuring better coordination and information flow.
He expressed confidence in the participants ability to produce an M & E Conceptual Framework for the Council’s 10 years roadmap, stating that the task ahead is achievable and that there is no cause for concern given their capacity and the impact of the training on them.
The Deputy Director commended participants for their concentration, commitment to and active participation throughout the training and expressed optimism that the programme marks the beginning of a new phase for monitoring and evaluation in the Council.
He further urged participants to deepen their understanding of the knowledge acquired to ensure they are adequately prepared when called upon to deliver on their responsibilities.
