By Stella Azi and Adaora Adibe
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), in collaboration with the Ebonyi State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (EBSMEDA) and Tastia Restaurants and Bakery Limited, has engaged critical stakeholders at an Investors’ Forum on Rice Value Chain Development. The event was held on April 28, 2026, at the Akanu Ibiam International Conference Centre (ICC), Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, with the theme: “Exploring Investment Opportunities in the Rice Value Chain in Ebonyi State.”
Delivering the welcome address, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of RMRDC, Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, welcomed participants to the event, noting that it reflects a convergence of purpose aimed at unlocking the economic value of Nigeria’s strategically important agricultural commodity. He stated that the theme represents a deliberate pathway towards transforming the economy into a high-tech industrial processing hub.
According to him, the initiative prioritises the conversion of raw paddy into premium finished goods, alongside the profitable utilisation of processing by-products to ensure that waste is transformed into wealth.
“The RMRDC does not operate at the extraction end; therefore, we do not compete with farmers or the Ministry of Agriculture. Our focus is on adding value to already extracted materials and making them available for industrial use, while expanding the value chain,” he said.
He noted that the forum serves as a gateway for participants to access bankable financial support and cutting-edge processing technologies, and to support the proposed 30% value addition mandate. He added that the state government stands to significantly enhance its economic landscape by shifting focus from primary production to industrial processing, to secure a sustainable industrial advantage that benefits private investors.
Declaring the event open on behalf of the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Bldr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, the Chairman of the Occasion and Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Ebonyi State, Chief Elechi N. Elechi, conveyed the governor’s goodwill message. He urged farmers to present their challenges, investors to contribute their expertise, and financial institutions to provide capital, while RMRDC supplies research insights to drive the initiative.
He emphasised that effective collaboration among stakeholders would not only stimulate economic growth but also enhance foreign exchange earnings. Elechi commended the RMRDC Director-General, Prof. Ike-Muonso, and the leadership of the Ebonyi SME Development Agency, for the timely collaboration aimed at advancing Ebonyi State’s economy beyond oil dependence. He called for deliberate negotiation, sustained engagement, and shared gains that would transition Ebonyi’s rice economy from potential to prosperity.
In his keynote address, the Director-General of the Ebonyi State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (EBSMEDA), Dr Stephen I. Odo, highlighted the state government’s efforts in boosting agricultural activities, particularly rice cultivation. He noted that one of the measures adopted is to ease access to land by removing bureaucratic bottlenecks.
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Dr Odo described the rice value chain as expansive and encouraged individuals and organisations to invest across its various stages. He also called for more inclusive collaboration among stakeholders and urged financial institutions to facilitate easier access to finance for farmers and other value chain actors.
He further appealed to RMRDC to support the development of policies that would enable rural farmers to grow and sustain their agricultural enterprises, while strengthening the sector’s comparative advantage.
The event featured goodwill messages, a tour of exhibition stands, and technical paper presentations on key themes, including: Agronomic Best Practices in Rice cultivation; Rice Processing and Quality Control; and the Conversion of Rice By-products into Marketable Products by Mr Patrick Ogbuinya, Chief Tony Muoneke and Joseph Okorie Uguru, respectively.
In her closing remarks, the RMRDC State Coordinator, Mrs Nnenna Agbafor, expressed appreciation to participants and assured that all deliberations from the forum would be reviewed for actionable outcomes. She noted that the forum was highly engaging and impactful for all stakeholders.
Participants at the event included farmers, entrepreneurs, investors, and financial institutions, including the Bank of Industry (BOI), as well as other stakeholders in the rice value chain.
Also in attendance were RMRDC officials from outside Ebonyi State, including the Director, State Industrial Extension Services Department, Mrs Edith Obi; the Anambra State Coordinator, Mrs Uche Arinze-Nwosu; the Enugu State Coordinator, Engr. Nkem Ude; the Abia State Coordinator, Mrs C. C. Nnorom; the Imo State Coordinator, Mr David Enemuo, among others.
