By Jennifer Obiefuna, Chidimma Ike-Muonso
In a bold move to accelerate agricultural development and local industrialization, the Enugu State Coordinating Office of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has initiated a strategic partnership with the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Industrialization to transform raw agricultural products through value addition before export, a shift poised to strengthen both the local economy and Nigeria’s global trade footprint.
During a courtesy visit to the Ministry’s headquarters at Garden Avenue, the State Coordinator of RMRDC, Engr. Henrietta Ude, led a delegation that included private sector collaborator Mr. Uche Ogbonnia of Liz Blossom Global and key RMRDC personnel. The team outlined the Council’s commitment to advancing its mandate through collaboration, emphasizing the importance of achieving a minimum of 30% value addition to all raw materials prior to export.
“We believe that with a united front, we can reposition Enugu’s agro sector as a model of innovation and self-sufficiency. Value addition is not just a target, it’s a necessity,” Engr. Ude stated.
The Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Patrick Nwabueze Ubru, welcomed the initiative with enthusiasm and reiterated the Ministry’s readiness to formalize the partnership. He spotlighted the Ministry’s efforts in land allocation within farmers’ estates, aimed at cutting production costs and encouraging large-scale farming investments.
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The meeting closed with an agreement by both parties to draw up joint action plans and establish frameworks for collaboration that would enhance agricultural value chains, create jobs, and promote sustainable agro-industrial growth in the state.
