Stella Azi and Oluwaseyi Otitoju.
The Organisation of Women in International Trade (OWIT), has called for a strategic partnership with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), to enhance women’s participation in Nigeria’s raw materials value chain and export development. The President of the organisation, Dr. (Mrs.) Blessing Irabor-Ora, made this call when she let her team on a courtesy visit to the Director General and Chief Executive Officer Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso at the RMRDC Headquarters, Maitama Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Irabo-Ora commended the Council’s leadership in advancing the development, utilization, and value addition of Nigeria’s raw materials resources, describing RMRDC as being central in the pursuit of Nigeria’s industrial growth and the strengthening of the non-oil export sector.
She lauded the Council’s proposed policy on a minimum of 30 percent value addition on raw materials prior to export, stating that it is “bold and necessary” initiative for repositioning Nigeria as a value-driven economy.
The OWIT President noted that women entrepreneurs should be positioned not just as participants, but as key drivers within the raw materials value chain. She emphasized the need for practical support systems to enable Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), particularly women at the grassroots, to fully benefit from the policy. According to her, many women entrepreneurs face challenges such as limited access to processing equipment and infrastructure, gaps in technical knowledge, high compliance costs, and inadequate access to finance.
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To address these challenges, Dr. Irabor-Oza proposed possible areas of collaboration including value addition support programmes, access to RMRDC’s processing technologies, development of women industrial clusters, capacity building initiatives, and support for meeting regulatory and export standards.
She further requested partnership in designing women-focused programmes, access to RMRDC’s pilot plants and technical support, inclusion of OWIT Nigeria in relevant committees, and collaboration on pilot projects that demonstrate scalable models for women-led industrial processing.
Responding, the DG RMRDC, Professor Nnannyelugo Ike-Muonso acknowledged the commitment by OWIT Nigeria to grow a strong network of women entrepreneurs, experience in export development, and access to international markets, expressing confidence that the partnership would translate policy into tangible impact. He admired their value for the principles of African Continental Trade Area (AFCTA), stressing the significance of the principles to value addition, and the need to educate the public on these principles.
He invited OWIT to join the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the African Raw Materials Summit (ARMS) 2026, a flagship programme of the RMRDC that serve as a platform for driving industrial development through stakeholders engagement, slated for June 2026.
In a related development, a team from the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), led by the Chairperson Bassey Ita-Ikpang, during a separate courtesy visit to the DG RMRDC, commended the DG’s achievements in strengthening local raw materials development, promoting value addition, and advancing inclusive economic participation, particularly in empowering women.
As part of the visit, the team announced the nomination of Prof. Ike-Muonso, as Patron of NAWOJ, FCT Chapter, citing his leadership, experience, and commitment to inclusive development as key attributes that would inspire members of the association.
The Chapter President, highlighted the role of the media in amplifying the Council’s initiatives and promoting national development. She described the association as a professional body of about 350 female journalists across print, electronic, and new media platforms in the Federal Capital Territory, committed to promoting professionalism, advocating for women and children, and driving social transformation.
She outlined recent activities of the association, including a capacity-building programme organized in collaboration with the German Embassy to mark International Women’s Day, as well as an upcoming “Marketplace Advocacy” outreach aimed at engaging grassroots women on health, education, and democratic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Chapter President noted that NAWOJ FCT is well positioned to give visibility to RMRDC’s programmes and initiatives through its wide media network, thereby enhancing public awareness and stakeholder engagement. She also sought the Council’s partnership, guidance, and support for the successful execution of NAWOJ’s upcoming programme.
In his response, Professor Nnannyelugo Ike-Muonso expressed delight with the courtesy visit and honour accorded him in recognition of his efforts in promoting raw materials value addition in Nigeria by the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, FCT Chapter. He urged them to remain steadfast in the duties.
The DG also invited NAWOJ to be part of the forthcoming RMRDC’s African Raw Materials Summit (ARMS), scheduled to take place in June this year. He acknowledged the indispensable role that the members of association can bring to bear before, during and after the summit, stating that, the quality and volume of information the members of NAWOJ will bring to bear on the ARMS is unquantifiable and undoubtedly crucial for creating the right information about the summit, its goals and objectives.
