By Stella Azi
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Representative to Nigeria, Ambassador Johnson Philbert Abaka, has applauded the Raw Materials Research and Development Council’s (RMRDC), data drive policy initiative, describing it as crucial for Nigeria’s economic growth.
The Ambassador made this remark during a working visit to the Director General/CEO of the RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, at the Council Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja, on 16th January, 2026.
He said that the relevance of the efforts of Prof. Ike-Muonso and his team in building a raw materials database for Nigeria cannot be overlooked, because without a census of raw material resources, there will not be an effective policy for building a formidable industrial infrastructure in Nigeria.
“ We would not know what resources we have, what we can use them for, and therefore will not put a structural approach to how we can process them.” he said.
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The Ambassador who pledged that UNIDO will partner with RMRDC to actualize the project, also noted that his organization is right now working with the Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) Sen. John Owan Enoh, commending the Hon. Minister for his commitment to ensuring the establishment of an industrial policy for the country.
He thanked Prof. Ike-Muonso and his team, stressing that Africa really needs to look inwards. “We cannot continue to be proud of exporting 79% of our raw materials for processing, and then having them being brought back to us to buy. It means we ourselves are impoverishing our countries, our people and future generations…. “If we all put resources together, I believe that in a few years Nigeria and other regions will be proud of us.” he expressed.
A UNIDO, FMITI programme for Community Partnership(PCP) Project team member, and Special Adviser to the Hon. Min. of State, FMITI, Emme Bassi, spoke on the need for RMRDC to be involved in the CPC project. She said there was the need for all parties to work together for a common goal of achieving a sustainable industrial structure for the nation and other nations in the African region.
In his response, the Director General/CEO RMRDC who was visibly ecstatic at the visit of the UNIDO Country Representative to RMRDC, appreciated the ambassador and his team. He said it was indeed a paradox to have a nation like Nigeria, blessed with abundant raw materials resources, still grappling with industrial growth.
Prof. Ike-Muonso noted that the RMRDC has intensified efforts to provide evidence based data and insight to stakeholders, investors and policy makers to enable them identify opportunities, address challenges and shape effective policies for national economic growth. He further noted that the effort is aimed at establishing rules, frameworks and processes for effective raw materials data management to improve decision making, foster innovation and achieve specific economic developmental goals.
According to the DG, the proposition of the 30% Value Addition Bill, presently awaiting the President’s assent, and the hosting of the 1st edition of the first of its kind, Africa Raw Materials Summit; which brought together economic leaders, policy makers, industrialists and distinguished stakeholders from different countries to identify areas of competitive advantage, and achievement of global competitiveness is an indication that his administration is poised to lead the future of industrialization.
The DG appreciated the organization for past partnership in the area of training, of which today the Council has received International Standard Quality Certification (ISO-9001 Certified) because of UNIDO. Prof Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso ended by thanking the UNIDO Ambassador to Nigeria for his humility and intentionality in making the courtesy visit to the DG RMRDC to discuss the partnership strategy with RMRDC.
