By Festus Obot & Adaora Adibe
The Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN, on Wednesday inspected pilot plants developed by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) at its Research and Demonstration Plant Complex, located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Space Centre, Airport Road, Abuja.
The inspection forms part of preparations for the forthcoming “Energise Commercialisation Now” (ECoN) initiative, scheduled for flag-off in Kano under the leadership of the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. The initiative is designed to transition Nigeria from a technology-importing nation to an innovation-driven economy through the commercialization of indigenous research outputs, with a focus on youth and women empowerment.
During the tour, the Minister was taken round several pilot plants showcasing RMRDC’s research breakthroughs ready for commercialization. These included facilities for the production of soap noodles, caustic soda, calcined kaolin, pharmaceutical-grade talc, Artemisinin Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) derived from Artemisia annua, skincare products, castor oil processing, and Plaster of Paris (POP), as well as the Council’s fabrication workshop etc.
Dr. Udeh commended the Council’s achievements, stressing the need to scale up the technologies and position them for both national and international markets. He noted that Nigeria possesses competitive raw materials capable of driving industrial growth.
“We have what it takes. Our raw materials can compete favourably across the world. This is the time to optimise and upscale these technologies. What we should be looking for now are off-takers who will adopt and commercialise them,” he said.
The Minister further directed the Council to engage industrialists and investors ahead of the ECoN flag-off, emphasizing the importance of well-structured presentations that highlight the viability and scalability of the technologies. He added that the innovations should be showcased across the six geopolitical zones to reflect the country’s diverse raw material base and attract broad-based investment.
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In his remarks, the Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to supporting investors by linking them with viable technologies capable of scaling production to commercial levels.
“We are focused on adding value to Nigeria’s abundant raw materials. These pilot plants demonstrate technologies that can re-energise local production and reduce dependence on imports,” he said, adding that the Council would ensure robust presentations at the Kano event to attract investors and industrial partners. Prof. Ike-Muonso also disclosed that some of the pilot equipment would be moved to Kano for live demonstrations during the event.
Earlier, providing technical insights during the tour, the Deputy Director, Pilot Plant and Process Equipment Division, Engr. Sirajo Musa highlighted the Council’s work on sorbitol production from cassava. He noted that despite Nigeria being the world’s largest producer of cassava, the country still relies heavily on imported sorbitol.
According to him, RMRDC has developed a technology through backward integration that converts cassava into glucose and subsequently into sorbitol using enzymatic processes. He explained that while the technology has progressed beyond the pilot stage and is ready for commercialization, further optimization, such as catalyst development, would enhance efficiency.
Engr. Musa emphasised that the sorbitol value chain presents significant opportunities for job creation, from farming to processing, while also conserving foreign exchange. He added that local fabrication of equipment would further reduce production costs and boost industrial capacity.
Mr. Suraj also spoke on Tacca starch, a wild-growing plant, noting that the Council, in collaboration with the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, is advancing its development as an alternative to cassava-based starch for pharmaceutical applications.
He explained that the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has undertaken extensive research and development efforts focused on the domestication of Tacca and the extraction of starch from the plant. According to him, Tacca, a wild false yam species, is emerging as a promising raw material due to its wide availability and minimal competition with food uses.
Mr. Suraj further noted that Tacca starch exhibits superior disintegration properties compared to cassava starch, making it particularly suitable for pharmaceutical formulations, especially as an excipient in tablet production.
He emphasised that advancing Tacca starch development is critical to promoting commercialization, reducing dependence on food-based raw materials, and attracting investment into the domestic production of pharmaceutical-grade starch.
The Minister particularly expressed interest in the Artemisia-based pharmaceutical project, describing it as a high-impact innovation with strong commercial potential.
At the end of the visit, the Minister commended the leadership of RMRDC, including the Director-General, Prof. Ike-Muonso; Director of Research, Demonstration and Plants Complex (RDPC), Dr. Obiageli Okafor; and other staff of the Council and Ministry for their contributions to advancing RMRDC’s technological development efforts.
