By Stella Azi & Moyofoluwa Ogunyemi
The Director General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso, has reiterated his commitment to revolutionizing Nigeria’s raw materials value chain to drive optimal productivity, particularly in the agricultural and mineral sectors. Prof. Ike-Muonso made these remarks during a working visit to the Group Managing Director of GTI Capital Group, Mr. Abubakar Lawal, on Thursday, November 28, at GTI’s headquarters in Lagos Island, Lagos State.
Speaking at the visit, the Director General emphasized the Council’s intention to strengthen its partnership with GTI Capital Group, a leading investment bank recognized for its success in advancing the rice and oil palm value chains in Nigeria. This collaboration is aimed at implementing advanced process technologies across various raw material value chains, boosting industrial input, and reducing post-harvest losses, especially in the agricultural sector. The ultimate goal is to create a self-sustaining national economy that can thrive without heavy dependence on external resources.
Prof. Ike-Muonso highlighted the significant post-harvest losses in Nigeria, particularly in onion production, despite the nation’s comparative advantage in this sector. He emphasized that the partnership with GTI is timely, as it will allow the RMRDC to establish a sustainable framework for raw material production, aggregation, and distribution. The RMRDC brings the technical expertise needed for the project, while GTI provides the structure and financial acumen to drive the entire value chain process.
The Director General further noted that the collaboration will focus initially on the onion value chain, an important economic crop with a variety of derivatives. He revealed that the RMRDC is already actively involved in efforts to improve the onion value chain and is keen to scale up its activities in collaboration with GTI.
You Might AlsoLike
Engr. Emmanuel Kwaya, Director of the Technology Development Department at RMRDC, who leads the research team on processing, preservation, and storage of onions to reduce post-harvest losses, explained that around 50% of onions produced in Nigeria are wasted due to inadequate storage facilities. This amounts to an annual loss of between ₦300 billion and ₦500 billion.
He stressed the need for support in developing process technologies that enhance value addition and minimize waste from farm to market. Despite Nigeria being the second-largest producer of onions in Africa, producing approximately 2 million metric tons annually (behind Egypt), the country still imports onions worth about ₦35 billion in 2024 alone.
Kwaya also shared the Council’s ongoing collaboration with a private entrepreneur and the Sokoto State Government to process onions into flakes. Currently, the facility produces 100kg of onion flakes and powder daily, but with further intervention, this could increase to 500kg per day. To achieve this, he stated, an investment of ₦150 million is needed to install an onion dryer for processing raw onions into flakes and powder.
Additionally, the Director highlighted the partnership with the Sokoto State Government to fabricate onion processing equipment, including machines for slicing, washing, centrifugal dewatering, tray drying, and a water treatment plant, all utilizing indigenous technology.
In his response, Mr. Abubakar Lawal, Group Managing Director of GTI Capital Group, expressed his admiration for Prof. Ike-Muonso’s appointment by President Bola Tinubu, noting that it has renewed public confidence in the RMRDC and revived hope for the country’s raw materials sector. Lawal reflected on the history of the RMRDC, acknowledging its potential as an engine of economic growth in Nigeria. He stated that, in the past, the Council had fallen short of expectations, but with the new leadership under Prof. Ike-Muonso, the vision for a reformed and thriving raw materials sector is becoming a reality.
Mr. Lawal, who was meeting with RMRDC for the first time, commended the Council’s efforts and expressed his eagerness to collaborate with them. He emphasized that GTI, as a venture capital firm with a solid structure and capacity, has the expertise to execute projects that will help transform Nigeria from a raw material-exporting nation into a semi-processed material hub.
He said, “At GTI, we create ideas, implement them, and deliver results. With the right structure in place, this partnership with RMRDC will help us achieve our goal of transforming Nigeria’s raw materials sector. The collaboration will become a catalyst for promoting competitiveness, creating jobs, and energizing the entire value chain ecosystem.”
This partnership marks a significant step toward industrializing Nigeria’s raw materials sector and enhancing its economic potential. By working together, the RMRDC and GTI aim to lay the foundation for sustainable growth in the country’s agricultural and manufacturing industries, addressing critical challenges like post-harvest losses and creating new opportunities for value-added production.
