By Nafisat Abdulrahman
Members of the Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN) paid a working visit to the Director-General (DG) of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso at the Council’s headquarters in Abuja on 13th November 2024 to make known the Associations plans, projects and explore future collaboration.
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The delegation was led by the Deputy Director Forestry, Federal Capital Territory Mr. Idowu Anifowose. During the visit, the DG and some Directors of the Council present engaged in discussions about the growing challenges of deforestation, flooding, and the resulting disruption of Nigeria’s ecological balance.
Mr. Anifowose highlighted how the rampant loss of forests, largely driven by urbanization has led to significant ecological degradation especially in the FCT while making it known that the association organizes annual conferences as well as tree planting campaign programs in line with their aims and objectives.
In response, the DG RMRDC expressed the Council’s readiness to collaborate with the FAN on research initiatives that are in line with the Council’s mandate. He reiterated the council’s commitment to supporting mutually beneficial courses to parties involved for a win-win arrangement where both sides can gain.
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“Our directors have talked to you about researchers within your fold, so we are interested in working with researchers within your fold, particularly those with works or interests in forest resources that will help industrial development”.
Prof Ike-Muonso further referred the FAN delegation to contact the Director Planning, Policy, and Strategy Mrs. Rachel Kotso who was also present at the meeting to work on areas of Collaboration with the Council.
Director Investment Promotion and Consultancy Services Mr. Lawal Suraj noted that the Council has worked on programs with the Association in the past while highlighting the Council’s interest in carrying out Research and Development projects.
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“Like the leader of the team highlighted that this association has a pool of experts, over 1000 PhDs, and professors who are actively engaged in R and DS. That’s one area that will greatly interest us, those R and D activities that have a direct impact on the development of raw materials in Nigeria” he added.
The Director, Directorate of Corporate Affairs RMRDC Mr. Chukwuma Ngaha emphasized the importance of practical achievements and progress in industrialization as he noted that the relationship between the Council and the association should be positively driven towards industrialization goals while stressing the need for practical achievements and progress.
“We are an institution, we are only looking out at those resources that can help our industries to grow. We are set up to help the industries source on a sustainable and competitive basis and raw materials, and also help to make raw materials available for those who need, even beyond our shores”, he stated.
