By Moyofoluwa Ogunyemi
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) made a remarkable impact at the inaugural West Africa Coatings Show, at the Landmark Events Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, from Wednesday, 2nd to 4th July 2025.
The event which was organized by the Paints Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMA), in collaboration with DMG Events, and Dubai served as a high-level convergence point for industry leaders, policymakers, manufacturers and innovators across the coatings value-chain.
As a leading advocate for local raw materials utilization, RMRDC used the platform to highlight its strategic interventions, groundbreaking research, and its sustained efforts to enhance the competitiveness of Nigeria’s paints and coatings industry.
Representing the Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso, at the event, was the Lagos State Coordinator, Mr. Oluwasola Marinho, who delivered a goodwill message that reaffirmed the Council’s pivotal role in industrial development through local raw materials utilization.
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In his address, the Director-General noted that the paints and coatings industry remain a key contributor to Nigeria’s industrial growth, contributing to employment generation, housing, construction, automotive finishing, and national aesthetics.
He emphasized that the growth of the sector depends largely on the availability and utilization of high-quality, locally sourced raw materials; an area where RMRDC has demonstrated proactive intervention. He, thereafter, highlighted some of the Council’s notable achievements in the development of the paints and coatings industry, including:
• Development of local alternatives as substitutes for major raw materials used in paint production, such as kaolin and calcium carbonate, thereby reducing over-reliance on imported inputs like titanium dioxide.
• Facilitating the establishment of small-scale paints manufacturing clusters through capacity-building programmes and support for indigenous entrepreneurs.
• Collaboration with research institutes and the academia to enhance formulation technologies and improve the quality and durability of locally made paints.
• Promotion of the use of agricultural by-products, such as castor oil and other oleochemicals, in alkyd resin development for eco-friendly paint solutions.
• Publication of technical manuals and industrial briefs to guide investors and stakeholders on sourcing and processing indigenous raw materials for paint production.
• Stakeholders’ engagement through policy dialogues, technical workshops and exhibitions, ensuring that research outcomes are effectively transferred to end-users and manufacturers.
In addition, he announced that the Council is currently upscaling pilot projects focused on resin production using indigenous feedstocks; a strategic initiative that aims to address a critical gap in the local supply-chain, while significantly reducing foreign exchange expended on imported resins.
Prof. Ike-Muonso also stated that in alignment with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, RMRDC has sponsored a landmark legislative bill on raw materials value-addition. The bill, which has successfully passed the public hearing stage at the Senate, seeks to establish a legal and institutional framework mandating the local processing of at least 30% of raw materials before export. It is expected to attract investments in value-addition infrastructure and provide a more enabling environment for Nigeria’s manufacturing sector to thrive.
He further reaffirmed Council’s unwavering commitment to driving self-reliance, competitiveness, and export orientation within the paints industry and called for increased collaboration with stakeholders across the value-chain while also expressing the Council’s openness to innovation and strategic partnerships that would drive sustainable industrial growth.
The Directors-General of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), both applauded Council’s leadership and contributions to the raw materials sector. MAN, particularly praised the efforts of RMRDC for consistently supporting the sector, driving innovation, local sourcing, and competitive advantage for Nigerian manufacturers. They further, pledged to sustain collaboration with key regulatory bodies such as SON and the RMRDC to create an enabling environment for innovation and industrial growth.
