By Godswill Amuneke
In a bid to boost investment and attract stakeholders to the cassava value chain, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Rivers State Coordinating Office, is set to collaborate with the Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) to host an upcoming investors’ forum titled “Investment Opportunities that Abound in the Cassava Value Chain for Industrial Development in Rivers State.”
A preparatory meeting was held recently, at the office of the Zonal Coordinator, NSPRI Secretariat, Rumueme, Port Harcourt. The meeting brought together key representatives from both agencies, including the Zonal Coordinator of NSPRI and the State Coordinator of RMRDC, Rivers State. The forum, tentatively scheduled for September 23rd, 2025, aims to promote investment in the cassava sector and foster industrial development through the optimal utilization of Nigeria’s abundant local raw materials—particularly cassava, in which Rivers State holds a comparative advantage.
While receiving the RMRDC delegation, the NSPRI Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Mandu Inana, expressed her delight at the collaboration, citing the longstanding cordial relationship between both agencies. She emphasized the need for the two parties to jointly seek sponsorships to facilitate the successful hosting and funding of the workshop.
Rivers State is recognized as one of Nigeria’s top five cassava-producing states, owing to its favorable weather and soil conditions. The cassava value chain holds immense economic and industrial potential, offering both the state and the nation a competitive edge over other agro-based raw materials.
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In response, the RMRDC State Coordinator, Mr. Minzor-Ezekiel, expressed appreciation to the NSPRI Zonal Coordinator for her willingness to partner with the Council. He noted that the proposed collaboration is expected to attract investors into cassava manufacturing and processing, while also creating greater awareness of the Council’s 30% value addition policy on local raw materials prior to export. This initiative, he said, will mark a turning point for Nigeria’s raw materials sector—ushering in industrial growth, technology adoption, and economic self-reliance in alignment with national development objectives.
