By Atinuke Tejumola /Rebecca Oluremi
The Ondo State Coordinating Office of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has begun talks with the Ondo State Government on a strategy geared towards sustainable local raw materials sourcing in the State. This was made known when the RMRDC State Coordinator, Mr Owolabi Oluyinka led a team on a working visit to the Ondo State Deputy Governor, His Excellency Olayide Adelami in his office recently.
The Deputy Governor while commending RMRDC for its laudable achievements in promoting local sourcing of raw materials for industrial development, stated that Ondo State was endowed with abundant agriculture and mineral raw materials and that RMRDC had in the past worked with the State Government to develop the raw materials sector in the State.
Speaking in the same vein, the Honourable Commissioner for Water Resources and Sanitation, Hon. Akinwalere Sunday stated that the RMRDC visit was borne out of the need to build on previous engagements on the development of lime for water purification for sustainable resource management.
Briefing his hosts, the RMRDC State Coordinator, Mr Owolabi Oluyinka highlighted some of the Council’s interventions in the State to include the establishment of Alade/Idanre Cocoa Catalytic Company and the Ikakumo Cashew Processing Company. He noted that the Council had since divested from these projects and handed over to the State Government. The Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Mr Olayide Adelami expressed willingness and pledged the State Government’s willingness to work with RMRDC in developing the huge agriculture potential in the State. He requested RMRDC support in the fabrication of a maize shelling machine to boost agriculture activities in the State. He assured the RMRDC delegation of the State Government willingness to work with the Council to promote indigenous technology which will invariably result in increased productivity using locally sourced raw materials