By Adeyemi Saheed and Afolaranmi Damilare
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Osun State Coordinating Office, has taken a significant step toward unlocking the mineral wealth of Owu-Epe Ijesa following a successful site visit and spot analysis of talc deposits in the community.
The visit, carried out by the Council’s team led by the Osun State Coordinator, Mr. Adeyemi Saheed A., aimed at assessing the quantity, quality and economic viability of the talc resources in the area. The initiative forms part of RMRDC’s broader mandate to promote the development and utilization of Nigeria’s abundant raw materials for sustainable industrial growth.
Addressing community leaders during the visit, Mr. Adeyemi expressed appreciation to His Royal Majesty, Oba Adesoji Adetona, for his support and hospitality, while also commending High Chief Adebiyi Adesoji, the Tagbosin and High Chief Olabode Ojo, the Losi of Owu-Epe Ijesa, for their warm reception. He noted that the exercise builds on earlier engagements with the community and represents a strategic effort to harness its mineral potential.
According to him, the scientific evaluation of the talc deposits could attract investments, stimulate local value addition and create employment opportunities. He assured the community of the Council’s commitment to working closely with stakeholders to translate the findings into tangible socio-economic benefits.
You Might AlsoLike
In his welcome remarks, High Chief Adebiyi Adesoji described the visit as a long-awaited intervention, expressing optimism that it would mark the beginning of meaningful development in the town. He highlighted the abundance of talc deposits, which are visibly evident across the community, but lamented that the resource has remained largely untapped due to infrastructural challenges.
Chief Adebiyi pointed to poor road networks as a major barrier to development, noting that limited accessibility has hindered economic growth and discouraged investment. He appealed for government intervention to address these challenges and unlock the town’s full potential.
Similarly, High Chief Olabode Ojo emphasized the importance of collaboration between government agencies and host communities in achieving sustainable development. He described the RMRDC’s visit as timely and assured the team of the community’s full cooperation in all stages of assessment and future development initiatives.
As part of the engagement, Mr. Adeyemi also disclosed plans for a follow-up visit by technical experts from the Council’s headquarters. The proposed visit will involve a more detailed analysis of the talc deposits to determine their commercial viability and guide investment decisions.
He further stressed the need for deliberate government intervention, particularly in infrastructure such as road rehabilitation and basic amenities, as a critical factor in developing the talc value chain in Owu-Epe. He expressed confidence that sustained engagement would attract the necessary support to drive development in the community.
The visit achieved its primary objective, providing valuable insights into the mineral potential of Owu-Epe while strengthening ties between the Council and the traditional leadership. It also laid the groundwork for further technical evaluation and highlighted key areas requiring urgent attention.
Overall, the exercise marks a crucial milestone in efforts to transform Owu-Epe’s natural resources into economic assets, positioning the community as a potential hub for mineral-based industrial development in Osun State.
