By Emmanuel Otoikhila
In a move aimed at boosting industrial development and promoting local raw materials processing in Edo State, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has begun a strategic partnership with the Edo State Ministry of Business, Trade and Cooperative.
The Edo State office of RMRDC, led by Acting State Coordinator, Engr. Otoikhila O. Emmanuel, paid a working visit to the ministry on August 1, 2025. The visit aimed to explore areas of collaboration, including the resuscitation of the Edo State Resource Centre, attracting investors for a pilot plant for Alkyd Resin production using rubber seed oil, and promoting value addition in local industries.
The RMRDC delegation was received by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. F.N. Edokpolor, who stood in for the Honourable Commissioner. Other dignitaries present included Acting Director, Business Advisory Mr. Enobakhare; Director of Finance, Mr. Irhefo Osaretin M.; Director of Trade and Promotion, Mrs. Azeke Anthonia C.; Head of Digital Marketing, Mrs. Imode Evelyn Nekpen , and Head of Business Promotion, Mr. Best Idahosa and others.
Engr. Otoikhila emphasized the need to support value addition initiatives and highlighted the potential of the proposed Alkyd Resin pilot plant to reduce dependency on imported raw materials by utilizing rubber seed oil for paint production. He also addressed the importance of the 30% value addition bill currently under consideration, as well as recent tax incentives granted to RMRDC to encourage industries that use locally sourced raw materials.
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“The objective is to reduce reliance on imported materials, promote sustainable industrial growth, and stimulate innovation through targeted R&D investment,” he stated. He called on the state government to allocate more land for rubber tree plantations, following previous discussions with the National Rubber Producers, Processors, and Marketers Association. This, he noted, would ensure a steady supply of rubber latex, which is in high demand.
Engr. Otoikhila also urged the Ministry to facilitate a high-level meeting with Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo to further discuss the strategic issues and challenges identified by stakeholders and cooperative societies across the state.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Edokpolor, extended the Ministry’s appreciation to the Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, for his leadership and commitment to innovation and indigenous technology development.
She expressed optimism about the partnership, noting that, “If the 30% value addition bill is assented to by the President, it will be a game changer not just for Nigeria, but the African continent as a whole.”
Mrs. Edokpolor also assured the Council of the Ministry’s full support in reviving the Resource Centre and facilitating engagement with the Governor. She welcomed investment opportunities in the rubber value chain, particularly the production of Alkyd Resin, due to increasing demand for rubber seed oil in paint manufacturing both within the state and nationwide.
The meeting marks a significant step toward strengthening Edo State’s industrial base and building a sustainable future driven by research, innovation, and local resource utilization.
