By Obot Festus
The Director General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso has announced that with the ongoing upgrade of the Council’s Technology Innovation Centre along the Airport Road, Abuja to a Research and Demonstration Plant Complex, the Council was strategically positioning to increase its patent holding from the current 46 to 200 in the next 24 months to further support local manufacturing industries. Prof Ike-Muonso stated this when he received a delegation from Bio-resources Development Group led by its President, renowned researcher and expert in natural medicine, Prof Maurice Iwu on a courtesy visit to the RMRDC Headquarters, Abuja on Friday, August 16, 2024.
Prof Ike-Muonso revealed that on completion, the Research and Development Plant Complex will house over seventeen (17) state-of-the-art laboratories as well as provide residency for researchers. He pointed out that it will become Nigeria’s one-stop Complex where manufacturers can come to carry out tests and analyses of their products.
“We are upgrading the Technology Innovation Centre to become Nigeria’s one-stop Research and Demonstration Plant Complex with over seventeen (17) state-of-the-art laboratories to support manufacturing industries in Nigeria. This is what RMRDC was established to do and this is what we must begin to do. Our mandate as a Council is to support local industries and not to compete with them…”, the DG stated.
While briefing the RMRDC Director General on the purpose of their visit, Prof Maurice Iwu commended RMRDC for its laudable achievements in research, innovation and development of raw materials especially in the area of traditional medicinal plants. Prof Iwu stated that his organization – Bio-resources Development Group is a social enterprise which aims to bring together investors and researchers in Africa traditional medicinal plants through its Annual Herbfest Conference. He informed the DG that BDG has successfully trained farmers in best practices in traditional medicine farming and also bought back their products. Prof Iwu further stated that his organization was working with the African Union to ensure standardization of the development of African medicinal plants.
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He lauded RMRDC’s effort in the development of Lovastastin which has shown significant potential and is effective in the treatment and management of cardiac related ailments. He also commended the Council for its proactive efforts during the COVID pandemic which helped the country to effectively contain and manage the spread of the disease in Nigeria.
