By Gladys Ekpo-Ita
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) reaffirms commitment to technology-driven raw materials development at Nigeria Tech rally held on Monday, 27th February 2026, at the Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), Calabar, Cross River State.
The event tagged “Fostering an Inclusive Digital and Tech-Enabled Economy for Sustainable Development,” brought together a diverse stakeholder, including secondary school science students, government agencies, technology-driven organisations, innovators, inventors, manufacturers of cottage-level technologies, and private sector players. The rally served as a strategic platform for dialogue on digital transformation, innovation, and sustainable economic development within Cross River State and beyond.
Representing the Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso was the Cross-River State Coordinator, Mr. Obot Anozeng Eteng who delivered a paper titled “The Future is Technology-Based Raw Materials Development.” He emphasised that integrating technology into raw materials development has significantly enhanced availability, processing efficiency, value addition, and export potential of Nigeria’s raw materials. He further underscored RMRDC’s statutory mandate in driving research-based industrial growth through technology adoption and innovation.
A major highlight of the programme was the roundtable session, which convened leading technology stakeholders and industry players across the state. The Honourable Minister of Science and Technology was represented by Mrs. Mary Itu, who joined other dignitaries in engaging discussions. She encouraged participants to key into the State’s STEM project aimed at modernising education, promoting digital literacy, and fostering innovation in Artificial Intelligence, coding, and robotics among students. The session also provided an opportunity for local innovators and manufacturers to showcase their products and explore cross-sector partnerships to promote home-grown technological solutions.
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As part of the technical sessions, Dr. Eneyo Boko delivered a paper titled “Basic Technologies that Drive Globalisation,” where he highlighted foundational technologies shaping global economic integration and development. In a related presentation, Dr. John Arikpo spoke on emerging technologies, providing insights into current trends and practical pathways for stakeholders to harness these innovations for economic growth.
The Nigeria Tech Rally featured an engaging lineup of activities including road shows, media chat sessions, technology product exhibitions, keynote addresses, plenary sessions, and panel discussions. The event was strategically designed to catalyse policy conversations, foster technology agenda-setting, and strengthen productivity, innovation, and policy integration across Federal and State levels. Policymakers and institutional stakeholders were actively engaged to ensure alignment with national and sub-national development priorities.
The programme concluded with a guided tour of the Technology Incubation Centre complex, where participants interacted with incubatees and start-ups operating within the facility. The tour showcased innovative products and services developed by emerging entrepreneurs, reinforcing the importance of incubation hubs in nurturing sustainable, technology-driven enterprises.
RMRDC’s participation at the Nigeria Tech Rally reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to advancing technology-driven raw materials development, industrial innovation, and strategic stakeholder collaboration in line with Nigeria’s national development goals.
