By Moyofoluwa Ogunyemi
The Lagos Coordination Office of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has intensified its collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture in a strategic move to strengthen Nigeria’s raw materials value chains and attract new investments into the sector. During a high-level meeting held on Tuesday, 17th September 2025, at the Alausa Secretariat in Ikeja, officials from both institutions explored key areas of partnership in preparation for the upcoming Investors’ Forum, with aquaculture emerging as a central focus.
The RMRDC delegation led by the Lagos State Coordinator, Mrs. Uchechukwu Ojiakor was received by the Director of Fisheries, Mrs. Osunkoya Daisi, who represented the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.
Mrs. Orjiakor highlighted the RMRDC’s nationwide contributions to agro-industrial growth through numerous efforts in promoting the use of local raw materials, strengthening crop and livestock value chains, and supporting the agro-allied industry. A major highlight point of her presentation was the 30% Value Addition Bill undergoing legislative processes, championed by RMRDC, which will provide a legal framework to stimulate innovation-led processing, enhance the competitiveness of local industries, reduce dependence on imported inputs, and create new opportunities for farmers and processors.
Discussions with the officials of the Ministry centered on aquaculture, particularly the fish feed value chain, which stakeholders described as critical to sustaining the growth of the industry. Highlighting challenges in the fish feed value chain, the Deputy Director, Fisheries, Mr. Hamzat, noted the rising cost of feed ingredients, the declining nutritional quality of certain raw materials, and the scarcity of fish meal. He also observed a shift by farmers from sinking pellets to floating feeds, which reduce wastage and improve growth performance.
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The RMRDC State Coordinator Mrs. Ojiakor acknowledged the concerns raised and highlighted the challenges which she said will be addressed at the forthcoming Stakeholders’ Forum on fish feed production. She requested that the Ministry attend the Investors’ Forum, given its vast knowledge and experience in the subject matter, so as to engage meaningfully with other stakeholders across the value chain.
Responding to these, the Director of fisheries, Mrs Osunkoya Daisi, welcomed the proposals, noting that partnership with RMRDC is apt and mutually beneficial. She pledged the support of the Ministry for the Investors’ Forum and assured RMRDC of sustained collaboration on future agricultural and industrial initiatives.
