By Chukwuma Ngaha, Adaora Adibe
The Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, has commended Abia State Governor,His Excellency , Dr. Alex Otti, for his visionary leadership and commitment to economic development.
During a proposed strategic partnership visit to the Abia State Government House Nvosi Isialangwa South LGA Abia State. The DG emphasized the critical role of research and innovation in driving sustainable development. He commended Governor Otti for his administration’s proactive approach to industrialization, investment promotion, and resource management, which aligns with RMRDC’s mandate
Prof. Ike- Muonso said that the Governor’s remarkable strides stand as irrefutable evidence of a leader imbued with competence, integrity and unyielding passion for the development of the state.
The DG said the collaboration is focused on developing value chains for raw materials, enhancing research, and fostering industrial innovation, in recognition of the growing importance of raw materials research, development, and industrial utilization in Abia State. He appealed to the governor to allocate land for the construction of a state-of-the-art RMRDC Coordinating Office and a world-class Raw Materials Resource Centre. According to him the proposed Raw Materials Resource Centre will serve as:
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- A repository of knowledge, housing research publications, processed raw materials samples, and investment advisory materials.
- A technology demonstration and business linkage hub, where emerging raw materials processing techniques will be showcased.
- A capacity-building center, providing hands-on training for industrialists, researchers, and entrepreneurs in Abia State.
“This investment will not only enhance RMRDC’s operational efficiency in the state but will also position Abia as a leading player in the research and development of indigenous raw materials for national and global competitiveness”, the DG stated.
Prof. Nnanyelugo pointed on the need to leverage Abia State’s richly endowed array of agricultural and mineral raw materials such as oil palm, cassava, and cocoyam etc, which hold immense potential for value addition and industrial exploitation.
He explained that to harness these resources optimally, the Council is strategically conducting a geo-mapping exercise to provide detailed data on the spatial distribution, quantity, and quality of raw materials in the state—on a local government-by-local government basis.
“Geo-mapping is a critical tool that will:
- Provide accurate data for policy planning, industrialization, and investment promotion.
- Attract local and foreign investors by showcasing the state’s natural wealth.
- Enhance job creation through targeted value chain development.
- Boost internally generated revenue (IGR) by facilitating industrial clusters around raw material hubs”, the DG informed.
Prof Ike-Muonso also informed and officially invited Governor Otti to participate in the upcoming Maiden Edition of the Africa Raw Materials Summit slated to hold at the Abuja Continental Hotel from 20th May to 22nd May 2025.
He observed that the Summit which has so far confirmed participants from across 72 Countries, aims at deepening Africa’s raw material markets, sharing knowledge on processing technologies and strengthening value chains amongst many other things.
Governor Otti, in his response, reaffirmed his commitment to leveraging partnerships with key institutions like RMRDC to maximize Abia State’s agricultural and industrial potential. He highlighted his administration’s ongoing efforts in revitalizing local industries, boosting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and creating an enabling environment for investors.
The visit was a fruitful one as the Governor his Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti pledged to provide land for RMRDC for the construction of a befitting office complex and also promised that, him and his cabinet will look at the proposed areas of partnership for possible actions.
