By Godswill Amuneke
As part of efforts to promote agribusiness and increase public awareness of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and its achievements, the Rivers State Coordinating Office of RMRDC on Wednesday, 30th July 2025, participated in the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Onne Agri-Business Outreach and Exhibition 2025. The event, themed “Agricultural Innovations and Smart Farming for Agri-Business Entrepreneurs in Southern Nigeria,” took place at the IITA Campus, IITA Road, Ekara Onne, Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The primary objective of the outreach was to introduce agri-solutions to farmers and agri-businesses across the South-South and South-East regions of Nigeria.
In his welcome address, the Station Director of IITA Onne, Dr. Richardson Okechukwu, described agribusiness as the business side of agriculture, encompassing all aspects of food production — from farming and harvesting to processing and marketing. He emphasized that agribusiness is a vast industry that includes food processing, agricultural machinery, manufacturing, agricultural inputs and services, financing, and insurance. He highlighted its importance in ensuring a stable food supply to meet increasing global demand, contributing significantly to the global economy, creating employment, and stimulating rural development.
Presenting the goodwill message, the State Coordinator of RMRDC Rivers State, Mr. Minzor Ezekiel K., explained that RMRDC has always been on the forefront of promoting the optimal utilization of Nigeria’s rich agro and mineral raw materials for industrial development and sustainable economic growth.
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He explained that the Council is a Federal Government agency under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, with its headquarters in Abuja and coordinating offices across all 36 states of the federation, including the FCT have been working tirelessly to ensure the raw materials ecosystem is enhanced for greater development especially under the leadership of Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso.
Mr. Minzor said some of the notable efforts of the Council is engaging the Federal Government in policy formulation related to the acquisition, exploitation, and development of raw materials. He informed attendees that the Nigerian Senate recently passed the RMRDC Act Amendment Bill 2022, a landmark development in the nation’s industrial and economic transformation efforts. The bill mandates that no raw material shall be exported from Nigeria without undergoing at least 30% value addition — a strategic move designed to protect local jobs, strengthen Nigeria’s processing and manufacturing sectors, and reduce dependence on imported raw materials.
The outreach concluded with a tour of the exhibition stands. In attendance were representatives of the Rivers State Sole Administrator, traditional rulers, captains of industry, heads of government agencies, academics, entrepreneurs, farmers, and other stakeholders.
