By Moyofoluwa Ogunyemi
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have reiterated their commitment to promoting indigenous production as a catalyst for industrial development and economic transformation. This commitment was on full display at the 2025 Made-in-Nigeria Exhibition, held alongside MAN’s 53rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, from 14th to 16th of October
The event provided a strategic platform to showcase locally driven innovations, strengthen industrial partnerships, and advance the call for self-reliance in manufacturing. RMRDC emerged as a standout participant, drawing significant attention for its display of innovative technologies developed from Nigeria’s abundant raw materials.
A team of management staff of RMRDC, led by the Director, Legal Services and Board Affairs, Barr. Ngozi Keshi, including Director, IPCSD, Mr. Mohammed Adamu; Director, SIESD, Dr. Edith Obi; Lagos State Coordinator, Mrs. Uchechukwu Ojiakor; Assistant Directors, Mrs. Juliet Mbibi, and Mrs. Ebele Nwajuaku were at event to represent the Council.
At the RMRDC exhibition booth, were a showcase of a range of innovations from indigenous raw materials, such as sodium silicate from rice husk, cassava starch from Tacca and Amora tubers, and stearic acid from shea butter. These technologies demonstrated the potential of local resources to produce high-value industrial inputs, underscoring RMRDC’s strategic role in reducing dependence on imported materials.
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The exhibition drew praise from visiting dignitaries including MAN President Otunba Francis Oluwagbenro Meshioye, MAN Director-General Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, and UNIDO Country Representative Ambassador Phibert Johnson. During the tour of the exhibition stands, participants were briefed on RMRDC’s patented technologies and ongoing industrial research projects. Commending the Council’s efforts, the dignitaries called for enhanced collaboration with manufacturers to accelerate the commercialization of these innovations.
In a keynote address delivered during the Adeola Odutola Lecture and Presidential Luncheon, Senator John Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, reaffirmed the need to prioritize local production, reduce industrial costs, and promote Nigerian-made goods. He outlined six strategic focus areas for the manufacturing sector:
• Prioritization of indigenous producers in procurement,
• Enforcement of quality standards,
• Publication of performance dashboards,
• Establishment of localization benchmarks,
• Expansion of export-readiness programs, and
• Strengthening of national skills development systems.
He further urged manufacturers to invest in research and development (R&D), maintain high product standards, provide accurate production data for informed policy decisions, and foster supply chain integration with MSMEs.
Speaking at the event, Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, represented by Engr. Ahmed Mansur, President of the Pan-African Manufacturers Association (PAMA), emphasized that sustainable economic growth is only achievable through robust domestic production. He stressed that the “Nigeria First Policy” must be upheld as a long-term industrial strategy resilient to market fluctuations and political shifts.
MAN President Otunba Meshioye advocated for the implementation of annual local content benchmarks across strategic sectors such as automotive, textile, pharmaceutical, and agro-processing. He called for a framework that includes both incentives for compliance and penalties for default, emphasizing the need for more effective enforcement than in the past.
