By Antyever Aondofa
The Benue State Office of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and the Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), Makurdi, have moved to strengthen their collaboration to promote industrialisation, value addition, and the sustainable utilisation of locally available raw materials in the state.
The move followed a visit by the RMRDC delegation led by the Benue State Coordinator, Mrs. I.J. Abel-Ugbir, to the Technology Incubation Centre in Makurdi on Monday as part of efforts to foster institutional cooperation and support technology-driven Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs).
Speaking during the visit, the Centre Manager of TIC Benue, Engr. Terna Ageh, welcomed the delegation and provided an overview of the centre’s mandate, incubation model and operational facilities, as well as the activities of its incubatees engaged in agro-processing and fabrication.
Ageh expressed the centre’s readiness to collaborate with RMRDC towards the establishment of an industrial hub in Benue State, describing the initiative as ambitious but achievable.
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“We are optimistic that through collaboration and sustained commitment, we can create an industrial ecosystem that will unlock the economic potential of Benue State,” he said.
Mrs. Abel-Ugbir, said the movr was in line with the Council’s mandate to promote the development and optimal utilisation of Nigeria’s raw materials for sustainable industrial growth and economic development.
She explained that RMRDC remains committed to raw material mapping, strengthening industrial linkages and supporting local sourcing to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported goods.
According to her, both agencies have critical roles to play in accelerating industrialisation and promoting entrepreneurship in Benue State.
Abel-Ugbir noted that the current industrialisation drive of the Benue State Government presents an opportunity for both institutions to align their programmes with the state’s development agenda.
She disclosed that efforts had been made to engage the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia on the proposed collaboration and expressed optimism that the initiative would receive the necessary support.
During a guided tour of the facility conducted by the Assistant Chief Scientific Officer of TIC, Mr. Iorfa N. Simon, the RMRDC team inspected the mechanical and electrical workshops, quality assurance laboratory, metal fabrication unit and several food-processing facilities.
Products displayed at the centre included poundo yam flour, mango chips, sweet potato bread, special okro and garri, among others.
One of the incubatees and an exporter of poundo yam flour, Mrs. Veronica Obeya Oche, identified the limited availability of packaging materials within the state as a major challenge affecting local manufacturers.
She noted that the situation had increased production costs and reduced the competitiveness of locally produced goods in the market.
Oche appealed to RMRDC to explore practical solutions to the packaging challenge as part of its support for local enterprises.
The two organisations identified key areas of collaboration, including the provision of comprehensive data on locally available raw materials such as soybeans, sesame, yam and assorted fruits to support product development by TIC incubatees.
They also agreed to facilitate the transfer of appropriate technologies for small-scale processing of agricultural produce to promote value chain development and strengthen local industries.
The visit is expected to lay the foundation for a structured collaboration between RMRDC and TIC aimed at empowering SMEs, promoting agro-processing and accelerating industrial development in Benue State through the effective utilisation of indigenous raw materials.
