By Moyofoluwa Ogunyemi
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) made a strategic visible display at the 39th Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) held from November 7–16, 2025, at the Banquet Hall of Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Onikan, Lagos. The fair, organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), brought together local and international exhibitors, innovators, policymakers and industry players under the theme “Connecting businesses, creating value.” The Fair hosted over 2,000 exhibitors from 22 countries, including China, Japan, India, Kenya, South Africa and several ECOWAS nations, reflecting Nigeria’s growing relevance as a regional manufacturing, trade and investment hub.
At the event, RMRDC team led by Overseeing Director, States Industrial Extension Services Department (SIESD), Mrs Edith Obi, and the lagos State Coordinator, Mrs. Uchechukwu Ojiakor had a stand showcasing diverse agro- and mineral-based samples, alongside key Council publications on raw materials data, value-chain analyses, processing technologies and investment opportunities and giving valuable information to people on the Council invaluable contribution to building the raw material ecosystem.
Throughout the 10-day event, the RMRDC pavilion stood out as a knowledge-driven hub for manufacturers, MSMEs, researchers, foreign exhibitors, and policymakers seeking sustainable raw-materials solutions. The Council’s technical team provided on-the-spot advisory services on raw-materials substitution, indigenous technologies, small-scale processing clusters, backward-integration strategies and collaboration opportunities.
Delivering President Tinubu’s remarks at the opening ceremony, the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, described the 2025 Lagos International Trade Fair as timely, arriving at a moment when global economies are reshaping supply chains and redirecting investment flows. He stated that Nigeria is taking decisive steps to move “from potential to productivity” under the Renewed Hope Agenda, driven by bold economic reforms introduced over the past two years. These include the removal of fuel subsidies, unification of the foreign exchange market, and ongoing improvements under the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC).
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The Minister further highlighted expanding investments in manufacturing, energy and other productive sectors, as well as the rollout of Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones to fast-track agricultural industrialization. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening industrialization, deepening backward integration, and advancing local content development. According to him, current reforms have already attracted more than US$5 billion in investments across manufacturing, fintech and energy, reflecting renewed investor confidence. He emphasized that the administration remains focused on policy clarity, streamlined trade processes, and enhanced support for SMEs and large industries alike.
Representing the Lagos State Governor, the Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade & Investment, Hon. Folashade Bada-Ambrose, reiterated the State’s unwavering support for MSMEs. She noted that “connecting businesses means building networks, fostering innovation, strengthening infrastructure, and forging partnerships that deepen the prosperity of our state.”
The closing ceremony celebrated innovation and economic progress, with the Lagos State Government acknowledging the participation of 185 MSMEs and reaffirming plans for digital transformation, regional market integration, tax reforms and job-creation initiatives. Exhibitors were encouraged to convert trade-fair engagements into concrete investments.
