By Adaora Adibe
The Director General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso, held a press conference to mark his first 100 days in office. The event, which was held at the RMRDC headquarters in Abuja on September 3, 2024, saw the DG outline the strides made so far under his leadership and share his ambitious plans for the future.
Addressing journalists, the DG expressed gratitude for the support and collaboration from the staff of RMRDC, Stakeholders, and the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology which he credited as crucial to the achievements recorded so far.
He stated that his focus is on transforming the Council into a world-class research organization that drives innovation in raw material exploitation, development, and utilization, supporting business growth and contributing to Nigeria’s economic prosperity. This he said will be achieved through the following:
Refocusing the Council as a premier research institute.
Strengthening the Council’s productivity and operational efficiency.
Significantly improving the staff welfare to be the best in the class of similar organizations.
Boost the Council’s visibility and institute remarkable culture change that encourages ownership and Productivity.
Strengthen and deepen the Council’s place in the international arena.
The DG highlighted several key accomplishments to include the implementation of a strategic goal-setting for the Council’s staff that defines and set out clear objectives unleashed in five significant initiatives. They are the initiation of a nationwide raw material data collection exercise that focuses on technical and investment information.
“This initiative is crucial as it lays the groundwork for our raw material research, supply chain expansion, attracting sustainable investments, and fostering partnerships to drive our mission forward “, the DG said.
The restructuring and renaming of the former Technology Innovation Complex (TIC) at the Obasanjo Space Center Abuja to a Research and Demonstration Plants Complex (RDPC), which will be Africa ‘s Centre of excellence in raw material research, featuring state-of-the-art laboratories, technology development, workshops and proof of concept demonstration.
The reactivation of the Council’s journal and repositioning it internationally.
This he said will host RMRDC’ ‘s researchers’ publications which is crucial in promoting awareness, facilitating knowledge sharing, and informing Stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges in Nigeria’s raw materials sector.
Collaboration with Nassarawa State University Keffi (NSUK), Micheal Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), and African Academy of Sciences to strengthen capacity for conducting market-guided research, ensuring sustained workforce training and deepening orientation in science.
The DG stated, “We reformulated a new template for all our research proposals to ensure and sustain a clear departure from the old culture of blue-sky and deliberately endless research. The new template aims to ensure that successful research outcomes are easily acceptable by the market and therefore readily commercialized at completion“.
The DG emphasized the implementation of a new organogram which is aimed at aligning departments and sectors to better deliver on the new focus and ensure that the workforce occupied positions that matched skills and expertise. This also followed significant infrastructure upgrades and a completed process of procuring working tools for all directors, deputy directors, and offices to give a conducive working environment.
The DG explained that the partnership between the Council and the Manufacturers Association (MAN) has been strengthened, “A vital outcome of the renewed relationship is revitalizing the multi-disciplinary task force on the industrial sectors. The idea is to regularly conduct surveys that enable organizations and the economy to gain valuable insights into the capacity utilization of MAN and the industrial sectors and the effects of government policies” he said.
The DG also prioritized staff welfare by setting up a comprehensive welfare program, including the RMRDC Training School to sustainably build staff and stakeholders capacity. He stated that the RMRDC Training School has perfected partnerships with the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), the Nassarawa State University, Keffi, and Kaduna Business School (KBS). He also mentioned the revamping of the Committee of Directors (COD) meeting as well as meetings with senior staff of the Council and the general staff meetings.
The DG also highlighted the establishment of the RMRDC TV Online, Raw Materials 360 weekly online Newspaper, and the Zoom conference webinar series that is held fortnightly to strengthen the Council’s visibility and communication strategies.
Prof. Nnanyelugo also stated that the Council will be hosting the Edition of the African Raw Material Summit in 2025, which he said will deepen the international presence of RMRDC and enhance competitiveness, promote sustainable development, etc.
Similarly, on October 9, 2024, the Council will host the first Edition of the Programme Presentation and Dialogue sessions with donor agencies, diplomatic missions, and transnational bodies. This event he said shall allow the showcasing of the Council’s programs and projects and help foster collaboration with international development agencies.
The DG further outlined plans to effectively enhance the intellectual property and patent portfolio of RMRDC from its current 40 to approximately 200 new patents within the next 24 months. He observed that the E-registration certification portal will be launched soon to enhance transparency in the raw materials sector. “this digital platform will facilitate the formal registration of raw materials dealers (importers and exporters), testing centers, and laboratories”, he opined.
Responding to questions from journalists, the DG provided additional insights into his administration’s plans, including building a robust RMRDC that will be a global attraction.
Earlier, the Director, Corporate Affairs Directorate, Mr. Chuks Ngaha in his remarks, welcomed everyone to the event and also commended the DG for his milestone achieved within his 100 days in office. He said he has no doubt the DG is moving the Council to greater heights.
The press conference was attended by Directors of the Council and representatives of various media organizations, who commended the DG for his transparency and commitment to accountability.
As RMRDC continues to drive innovation and growth in the raw materials sector, the DG’s first 100 days in office have set a promising tone for the future.
