By Amuneke Godswill
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has called on exporters of the small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to embrace cluster development as a strategic pathway to enhance productivity, value addition, and global competitiveness.
This call was made during a one-day capacity building programme organized by the South–South Regional Office of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) with the theme: “Accelerating Export Growth through Formal Cluster Development,” held at Aldgate Congress Hotel, No. 30/33 Sani Abacha Road, GRA, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The programme was designed to strengthen the capacity of SMEs, cooperatives, agro-processors, and export clusters in the areas of value addition, standardization, and export readiness.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Fatima Lawal, speaking on behalf of the South-South Regional Coordinator of NEPC, Mrs. Ngozi Ibe, underscored the vast export potential of the region. She stressed the need for fragmented producers to transition into formal, well-structured clusters capable of meeting international market standards. She reaffirmed NEPC’s commitment to supporting exporters through capacity building, standardization guidance, and improved access to market linkages.
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In his remark, the Rivers State Coordinator of RMRDC, Mr. Minzor–Ezekiel Kurotimipa, described cluster development as the geographical concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers, service providers, and institutions working within a specific value chain. He noted that such collaboration enables small producers to consolidate efforts into a unified, market-ready entity capable of competing effectively in the global marketplace.
He further emphasized RMRDC’s role in promoting the development and utilization of local raw materials, as well as providing technical support for raw material development and value chain optimization. He highlighted key achievements of the Council, including the launch of the Nigerian Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products (NISSRAMP), a comprehensive database aimed at improving access to raw materials data and stimulating industrial growth. He also referenced the Council’s Media Hangout initiative designed to enhance stakeholder engagement, visibility, and public awareness of its activities.
A major highlight of the programme was the practical formation of new export clusters, where participants were grouped according to value chains. They were guided to identify specific products, aggregate production capacity, and establish structured cluster leadership systems.
The event attracted about 117 participants drawn from across the export value chain, including regulatory agencies, financial institutions, government bodies, organized private sector groups, SMEs, and prospective exporters. It also featured four technical paper presentations delivered by heads of government agencies and private sector representatives, all aimed at strengthening export readiness through structured cluster development.
