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AUST President Calls For Stronger Local Value Addition As RMRDC Marks 38th Anniversary

AUST President Calls For Stronger Local Value Addition As RMRDC Marks 38th Anniversary

The President, African University of Science and Technology (AUST) Abuja, Engr. Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, FAS, has called on captains of industry, government agencies, entrepreneurs, innovators and members of the general public to inculcate a stronger local value addition in their raw materials search so as to garner more financial base andcreate more job opportunities for the teeming populace in Nigeria.

Prof. Onwualu made this call while delivering the 38th anniversary lecture of the Raw Materials and Research Development Council ( RMRDC) at the headquarters of the parastatal in Abuja on Tuesday, February 10,2026.The anniversary lecture provided an opportunity to reflect on RMRDC’s institutional legacy and to outline forward-looking strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s raw materials value chain.

 In his lecture, Prof. Onwualu former Director-General of RMRDC reviewed the council’s mandate, historical milestones, and leadership continuity, underscoring its enduring relevance in Nigeria’s industrial ecosystem. He emphasized the urgent need to transition the economy from commodity exports to domestic value addition through the development of primary, secondary (intermediate), and advanced raw materials.

Using examples such as fruit juice concentrate and battery materials, he highlighted the persistent gap between Nigeria’s abundant raw commodities and industry-ready intermediates, noting that this disconnect continues to limit industrial growth and economic competitiveness. He identified weak policy implementation and limited industry–academia collaboration as major constraints to sustainable value addition, while reaffirming the council’s collaborative engagements with manufacturers, chambers of commerce, research institutions, and other stakeholders across ten priority industrial sectors.

In his welcome address, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso reflected on the council’s mandate under the RMRDC Act (Decree No. 39), emphasizing its statutory responsibility to promote import substitution and backward integration.

 He traced the council’s evolution from its early formation in Lagos to its current headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, and highlighted RMRDC’s coordinating presence across all 36 states of the federation. He acknowledged the contributions of past leaders and key stakeholders, including Dr. Abubakar Abdullahi, Prof. Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, and Prof. Husseini Doko Ibrahim, whose efforts laid the foundation for the council’s growth and continued relevance.

The anniversary programme also highlighted RMRDC’s strategic priorities, including wholesale digitalization through a new enterprise management system, the discouragement of unprocessed raw-material exports, and efforts to amend the RMRDC Act to mandate a minimum of 30 percent local value addition before export. Emerging research priorities discussed included nanotechnology, battery technology, and lithium-based materials, with plans to engage international experts to support advanced research and downstream processing.

 The AUST President was accompanied to the event by Mrs. Buchi Ekpolomo, Chief Librarian; Prince Obioha Sampson Atulomah, Head, Media Services/PR; Dr. Mike Amonye, Head, AUST SIWES programme; Dr. Bosco Okolo-Obi, HoD, General Studies; Mr. Kingsley Ogwudu, Senior Manager, AUSTinspire hub; Ms Nneoma Chimbonu, Secretary to the AUST President; Mr. Solomon Ibrahim, Procurement officer, Ms. Blessing Iweha, Admin. Assistant, Media Services/PR; Ms.Ifunanya Sonia Obi and Ms. Chinwendu Njoku, Admin.Assistants.