By Ahmed Egbako
In a move aimed at accelerating agricultural raw materials development and agro-industrial investment in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) FCT Coordinating Office and the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat (ARDS) of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have commenced a strategic partnership to promote value addition and sustainable agricultural development in the Territory.
The collaboration was initiated during a courtesy and partnership visit by the RMRDC FCT Coordinating Office to the ARDS Secretariat on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the ARDS Conference Hall, Abuja.
Leading the RMRDC delegation, the FCT Coordinator, Mr. Olatubosun Olajubu, presented an overview of the Council’s mandate, highlighting its role in promoting the development, optimal utilisation, and value addition of Nigeria’s industrial raw materials through research, innovation, technology transfer, and industrial linkages.
He stressed the importance of institutional collaboration in unlocking the economic potential of agricultural resources in the FCT, noting that partnerships in agro-processing, capacity development, investment promotion, and support for micro, small and medium enterprises would significantly contribute to employment generation and inclusive economic growth.
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Mr. Olajubu also briefed the Secretariat on the successful Investors’ Forum on Industrial Utilisation of the Ginger Value Chain and Economic Potentials in the FCT, organised by the RMRDC FCT Coordinating Office, and presented copies of the communiqué issued at the end of the forum.
He further sought the support of the Secretariat in facilitating stronger engagement with the six Area Councils of the FCT and proposed collaborative training programmes in natural products development and health-based entrepreneurship.
Responding, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics in the Secretariat, Mr. Haruna Umar, who represented the Mandate Secretary, welcomed the RMRDC delegation and reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to partnering with the Council in advancing agricultural development initiatives across the Territory.
He commended the Council’s interventions and encouraged the FCT Coordinating Office to strengthen linkages among investors, farmers, processors, and other agricultural stakeholders to drive sustainable growth within the sector.
Contributing to discussions, Directors from the Fisheries and Forestry Departments underscored the need to identify priority agricultural raw materials within the FCT and develop coordinated programmes capable of enhancing production, processing, and market access for farmers and agro-based enterprises.
Deliberations during the meeting centred on several areas of potential collaboration, including fisheries development, forestry resources management, agricultural data sharing, technology transfer, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building initiatives for farmers, cooperative societies, and entrepreneurs.
At the end of the engagement, both organisations agreed to share available data on agricultural raw materials across the six Area Councils of the FCT, designate Desk Officers to coordinate joint activities, promote public-private partnerships within agricultural value chains, organise joint stakeholder engagements and capacity-building programmes, and collaborate on initiatives aimed at strengthening agro-industrial development and value addition.
The meeting marked a significant step towards deepening institutional collaboration between RMRDC and the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to promoting agricultural innovation, investment opportunities, wealth creation, and sustainable economic development in the Federal Capital Territory.
The visit concluded with the presentation of RMRDC concept notes and the communiqué from the Investors’ Forum to the leadership of the Secretariat, followed by a group photograph to commemorate the engagement.
