By Emmanuel Otoikhila
The National Orientation Agency and the Raw Materials Research and Development Council have commenced a strategic collaboration aimed at identifying, documenting and promoting raw materials available across the 18 local government areas of Edo State to drive industrialization and economic growth.
The initiative was unveiled during a stakeholders’ meeting held on May 25, 2026, at the Edo State office of the RMRDC located within the Federal Secretariat, Aduwawa, Benin City.
The meeting focused on developing strategies for gathering and disseminating information on locally available raw materials to strengthen awareness, encourage resource utilization, and attract investment into the state’s industrial sector.
Speaking during the engagement, the Edo State Coordinator of the NOA, Barr. Osahon Woghiren, underscored the importance of public enlightenment and community participation in harnessing local resources for national development.
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According to him, the partnership between both agencies would support government efforts aimed at promoting local content development, industrial expansion and economic diversification.
Woghiren also pledged the agency’s support for the forthcoming African Raw Materials Summit 2026 scheduled to hold from June 22 to 24, 2026, in Abuja. He noted that the NOA would assist in stakeholder mobilization, public sensitization and the promotion of policies relating to raw materials development and Africa’s industrialization agenda.
He further stated that the agency would intensify campaigns encouraging Nigerians to patronize locally made products while fostering citizen participation in resource-based industrial growth.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Head of Youth Engagement and Inclusion Department of the NOA, Mr. Ogbomo Rawling, stressed the need to actively involve young people in resource development initiatives.
He explained that exposing youths to opportunities within the raw materials value chain could stimulate entrepreneurship, create employment opportunities and deepen awareness of the economic importance of local resource development.
Participants at the meeting emphasized the need for sustained collaboration between the NOA and RMRDC in sensitizing communities and stakeholders on the vast economic potential embedded in Edo State’s natural and agricultural resources.
The meeting also highlighted the importance of comprehensive data collection on raw materials across local government areas to support investors, researchers and policy makers with reliable information for industrial planning and development.
In his remarks, the Edo State Coordinator of the RMRDC, Engr. Otoikhila O. Emmanuel, said the partnership would significantly enhance the documentation, utilization and promotion of the state’s abundant raw material resources.
He added that the collaboration would further strengthen ongoing efforts to position Edo State as a strategic hub for raw materials development and value-added industrial production.
As part of the visit, the RMRDC charter was formally presented to the NOA State Coordinator to reinforce institutional partnership and mutual cooperation between both agencies.
