July 24, 2024
Chris Obaje, ABUJA
Chief Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, said the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) will revamp establishment of resource-based industry clusters in Nigeria.
The minister said this on Tuesday in Abuja at conference of the National Consultative Committee on Global Development in Nigeria.
“The initiative aims to promote the optimal utilisation of Nigeria’s abundant raw materials.
“It will also ensure that MSMEs can access local raw materials easily, reducing import dependency and lowering production costs, ” he said.
According to him, the Technology Innovation Centre(TUC) established by the Council at Obasanjo Space Centre, positively impacts the country’s economic diversification initiative and manufacturing contribution to GDP.
Nnaji explained that the centre provided a platform for technology adoption, adaptation and transfer to agriculture and mineral raw materials process technology.
He continued that the centre offered a window for industrial/ academic research on developing and utilising raw materials in Nigeria.
” It also servers as a one-stop process technology outlay that showcases equipment, processes, instrumentation, for potential investors or entrepreneurs in agriculture and mineral processing.”
Prof Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, Director General of the RMRDC, said the conference responded to the patriotic zeal and the consequent pressure from Nnaji.
He said the National Strategy for Competitiveness in raw materials and product development in Nigeria was approved for implementation by the Federal Executive Council(FEC), in May, 2027.
” The post- approval step by the government was also the constitution of the National Consultative Committee and Competitiveness(NCCC) and it’s inauguration .
“It’s successful implementation will unquestionably reduce the level of raw materials and products,” the RMRDC director general said.
