By Stella Azi
In a bold stride toward advancing Nigeria’s position in cutting-edge science and technology, the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, has reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to harnessing nanotechnology as a strategic lever for industrial transformation. This declaration came as he chaired the opening session and delivered the keynote address at the 6th African Conference/Workshop on Applications of Nanotechnology in Energy, Environment, Agriculture, and Health, held on July 14, 2025, at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
The conference, hosted by UNN’s Nano Research Group in collaboration with OilServ Group Ltd., brought together experts, academics, and innovators from across Africa to explore how nanotechnology could provide African solutions to African challenges. Against this backdrop, Prof. Ike-Muonso delivered a stirring keynote titled, “Nanotechnology as a Catalyst for Industrial Transformation in Africa,” setting the tone for the sessions that followed.
In his keynote, he laid out a visionary roadmap, asserting that Nigeria’s future industrial and economic competitiveness will not hinge on the sheer volume of its raw materials but on its capacity to transform them through innovation, research, and strategic partnerships, particularly in the emerging field of nanotechnology.
“We are at the cusp of a new era,” he said with conviction. “The success of countries in this century will be defined not by the volume of their raw materials, but by their capacity to transform them through innovation, and nanotechnology provides us that leverage.”
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He then delved into five key sectors where nanotechnology can serve as a game-changer for Nigeria and Africa at large:
In the energy and power sector, he stressed the urgent need for Nigeria to reduce its dependence on imported batteries and instead develop homegrown lithium battery technologies.
The DG pointed out that efficiency, lifespan, and affordability of modern batteries can be vastly improved through nanotechnology, enabling energy independence and powering the shift toward clean mobility and decentralized power systems.
When addressing environment and pollution control, the DG highlighted the potential of nano-based materials in removing heavy metals, purifying water, and detoxifying polluted soils, particularly in the oil-impacted regions of the Niger Delta.
“We can no longer treat the environment as an afterthought. Nano-remediation can give us a second chance,” he asserted, calling for urgent integration of advanced remediation technologies into environmental policy.
On agriculture and food security, he explained how nano-encapsulated pesticides and fertilizers could improve crop yield, minimize post-harvest losses, and help farmers comba
