The future and economic prosperity of Nigeria and Africa depend on adding value to the country’s abundant raw materials, says Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).
Ike-Muonso made the remark on Tuesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by Ali M. Ali, Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), to the council’s headquarters.
He said processing raw materials locally was key to strengthening industrial manufacturing, stabilising the national currency, and boosting foreign exchange reserves.
“The future of this country and its prosperity is not possible until this agency and its activities are given the priority attention they deserve.
“Africa and Nigeria have something to offer the world, but a significant part of what we offer today is our raw materials.
“The valorisation of these raw materials is what will change the destiny of this country and continent, and this is what we have been set up to do.
“To strengthen industrial activities, manufacturing, the value of our currency, and foreign exchange earnings — all of which are central to our prosperity,” he said.
“If that is the case, it is important that our activities, which should bring this prosperity, are properly known, mainstreamed, and communicated to relevant stakeholders,” he added.
Ike-Muonso disclosed that the council is set to relaunch its scientific publication, the Journal of Raw Materials (JOMA), to showcase Nigerian research to the international community.
“We want what we are doing to be felt in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, and all corners of the earth. That is the value I see the News Agency of Nigeria bringing to us,” he said.
He described the proposed collaboration with NAN as the council’s most tangible media alliance and expressed confidence that it would also revive JOMA.
“This council has been in existence since 1988 and has churned out lots of research. Working with you, we need to focus on this because that is what people interested in us will be looking for,” he said.
Earlier, Ali emphasised the need for greater media awareness to promote research for development.
He said the visit aimed to establish a robust partnership to promote the commercialisation of research outputs in the country.
Ali expressed NAN’s commitment to using its vast national and international reach to amplify scientific breakthroughs from RMRDC to global markets.
“NAN has been Africa’s biggest news content provider. We believe that unless you amplify and publicise your remarkable progress, your efforts may go unnoticed,” he said.
He noted that many of Nigeria’s research institutes suffer low visibility and highlighted NAN’s extensive network of over 500 reporters, offices in all states, 12 zonal offices, and coverage across all 109 senatorial districts.
“Given our reach, reputation, and workforce, we seek a win-win partnership where we can amplify your activities to multiple clients who can take them further,” Ali said.
He added that the strategic alliance would support the Federal Government’s economic diversification goals under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Dr. Sebastian Ebierekwe, Director of RMRDC’s Agriculture and Agro-Allied Department, noted that the media plays a pivotal role in the commercialisation of research.
“If there is abundant raw material, human capital, and innovation, but the product is not publicised, nobody will know it is there,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the partnership would accelerate industrialisation and improve import substitution.
Mr. Abubakar Kollere, Director of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Development, described the partnership as strategic, noting that countries such as Kenya and Uganda had sought insights from RMRDC to establish similar agencies.
Mrs. Rebecca Nnamdi-Anum, Director of Corporate Affairs, sought NAN’s support in training the council’s media team and partnership on the forthcoming second edition of the African Raw Materials Summit.
Other RMRDC management staff at the meeting included Dr. Udodirim Ugbonna, Deputy Director of the Performance Management System, and Mr. Musa Damay, Deputy Director of Investment Promotion and Consultancy Services.
Also in attendance were NAN Editor-in-Chief Mr. Mufutau Ojo, Director of Marketing Mrs. Hadiza Aliyu, and Director of Special Duties Ismail Abdulaziz.
