By Usman Bawa, Mikailu Abubakar & Lukman Isah
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Kaduna State Coordinating Office, has commenced the year 2026 with a strategic industry engagement aimed at accelerating agro-industrial development and strengthening Nigeria’s soybean value chain with a strategic industrial visit to Duwan Agro Allied Industries Ltd. in Kawo, Kaduna State. The visit led by the RMRDC Kaduna State Coordinator, Mr. Mutallab Jibrin Shehu, was undertaken to evaluate the company’s processing capacity, assess its technology deployment, and identify opportunities for research collaboration and technical intervention in line with RMRDC’s statutory mandate.
Speaking during the engagement, Mr. Mutallab Jibrin Shehu who were received by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Duwan Agro Allied Industries Ltd., Mr. Ahmad Musa Duwan, described the visit as a practical step toward strengthening the link between research and industry. He noted that with targeted support and innovation, Duwan Agro Allied Industries has the potential to serve as a model soybean processing enterprise in Kaduna State, contributing to employment generation and broader agro-industrial growth.
The MD, Mr. Ahmad Musa Duwan, expressed appreciation for the visit and affirmed the company’s readiness to partner with RMRDC in areas such as research support, technology upgrading, data sharing, and enhanced by-product utilization.
He noted that Duwan Agro Allied Industries Ltd. is a medium-scale agro-processing firm currently setting up facilities for the production of soybean oil. The company utilizes a mix of locally fabricated and imported equipment and sources soybeans from surrounding farming communities, thereby supporting local agriculture and value addition.
The RMRDC team took a tour of the facility, and observed critical stages of production, including cleaning, destoning, pressing, and refining. The team also reviewed the company’s energy usage, which presently depends on wood and coal. In line with sustainable industrial practices, RMRDC advised the adoption of biomass briquettes as a cleaner, more efficient, and environmentally friendly energy alternative.
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Mr. Mutallab Jibrin further recommended that the company should focus on marketing soybean oil in drums to reduce startup costs, while progressively pursuing relevant quality certifications as operations stabilize. RMRDC also proposed the engagement of Duwan Agro as a pilot processing plant for future research initiatives and policy development within the soybean sector.
The visit reaffirms RMRDC’s commitment to driving sustainable industrialization through direct engagement with emerging processors. Continued collaboration is expected to improve processing efficiency, promote cleaner energy adoption, and reinforce Nigeria’s soybean value chain in support of national development goals.
