By O. Marinho, M. Ogunyemi, M. Adeyemi & S. Asokere.
The Director General/CEO of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, has called for a bold and coordinated national push to reposition Nigeria as an industrial powerhouse through the strategic deployment of technology, local value- addition and targeted policy reforms.
Prof. Ike-Muonso made this call in a rousing opening address at the 9th Nigerian Raw Materials (NIRAM) Expo, co-located with the 8th Nigeria Manufacturing and Equipment (NME) Expo, jointly organized by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
Speaking at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, Prof. Ike-Muonso emphasized that the NME-NIRAM Expo is far more than a bi-ennial exhibition. “This is where Nigeria’s industrial future is debated, designed and driven,” he declared, noting that the Expo serves as a hub for policy dialogue, innovation exchange, investment matchmaking and strategic collaboration.
This year’s theme, “Accelerating Sustainable Manufacturing Through Cutting-edge Equipment and Technology Solutions,” he said, is a “clarion call” for Nigeria to reposition herself within the fast-evolving fourth industrial revolution. He lamented that the contribution of manufacturing to GDP had declined to 9.62% in Q1 2025, while raw material imports surged to ₦4.53 trillion in the first nine months of 2024—highlighting a severe structural imbalance in the economy.
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“The problem is not potential—it’s coordination,” the DG said. “With over 120 commercially viable solid minerals, vast agricultural resources and a youthful population, Nigeria has what it takes to industrialize. What we need is bold implementation backed by technology.”
Highlighting recent RMRDC milestones, Prof. Ike-Muonso pointed to the launch of the Research Demonstration Plant Complex (RDPC) in Abuja. The facility, which houses over 50 locally designed pilot plants, has been hailed as a “game-changer” in Nigeria’s journey towards industrial self-reliance. These include equipment for transforming cassava into sorbitol, talc into pharmaceutical grade powder and shea into essential oils; all built or reverse-engineered in Nigeria.
He also spotlighted the recent passage of the RMRDC Amendment Bill, 2025, which mandates that no raw material may be exported without at least 30% local value- addition. Describing the bill as a “turning point,” he said it would encourage global investors to bring processing technologies to Nigeria, ending the era of exporting raw materials and jobs.
Complementing this legislative breakthrough, he revealed that the Federal Government has granted RMRDC the authority to implement tax incentive guidelines that reward manufacturers using local raw materials. “Soon, firms that innovate and invest in local inputs will pay significantly less in taxes than those that do not,” he noted. Sectors like agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, green tech, polymers and textiles are expected to benefit from tax credits, duty reliefs, investment allowances and excise waivers.
“This is not policy tinkering, it is a fiscal affirmation that the smartest supply chain is one built from the ground up, right here in Nigeria,” he declared.
To truly reposition Nigeria as an industrial force, he urged a reduction in foreign raw material imports by at least 60% within five years, increased technology adoption and deeper research–industry collaboration. He advocated for the development of industrial clusters around strategic raw material zones, infrastructure financing and stronger SME integration.
Concluding his address, Prof. Ike-Muonso called on all participants; policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, investors and development partners; to seize the opportunity of the 3-day Expo to forge actionable partnerships and deliver investible, implementable and inclusive industrial solutions for Nigeria’s future.
