By Amuneke Godswill
The Rivers State Coordinating Office of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has reiterated its commitment to fostering industrial growth and non-oil export expansion through strategic collaboration with key stakeholders. This was evident at the 4th Quarter edition of the Rivers State Committee on Export Promotion (RSCEP) meeting, organized by the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) in partnership with the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The quarterly RSCEP meeting which took place at the Permanent Secretary’s office, Rivers State Secretariat Complex, Port Harcourt, brought together representatives from relevant government agencies and the organized private sector, including the RMRDC, to align on strategies for export promotion and economic diversification in the state.
A highlight of the meeting was a courtesy visit to the newly appointed Honourable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Joe Johnson Werisemibo who welcomed the team to his office and expressed full support for meaningful collaborations that will drive tangible development and enhance Rivers State’s position in the non-oil export space.
Speaking during the session, the South–South Regional Coordinator of NEPC, Arc. Benedict Itegbe, underscored the importance of the SCEP platform as a quarterly forum where agencies and private sector representatives present progress reports in line with the 2025 SCEP Action Plan. He reaffirmed NEPC’s commitment to promoting non-oil exports and supporting entrepreneurs through training and capacity-building initiatives. Itegbe also emphasized the role of cooperative clusters in strengthening small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
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In his presentation, the RMRDC State Coordinator, for Rivers State, Mr. Minzor-Ezekiel Kurotimipa, spotlighted the Council’s innovations in raw materials research and its impact on national development. He announced the Council’s upcoming workshop, titled “Investment Opportunities that Abound in the Cassava Value Chain for Industrial Development in Rivers State,” slated for the last quarter of the year. The workshop aims to harness the state’s comparative advantage in cassava production and promote value addition across the supply chain, in line with the mandate of the Council.
Mr. Minzor-Ezekiel also highlighted the significance of the 2022 Amendment Bill on 30% Value Addition, which is undergoing legislative process. The bill, once enacted, will mandate that no local raw material is exported without a minimum of 30% value addition, a move expected to boost local processing, industrial output, and job creation.
In response, Arc. Itegbe pledged NEPC’s financial and technical support toward the successful execution of the proposed cassava workshop. He said he believe such ventures promote development in the raw material sector.
