… Pushes African Industrial Agenda

The Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, has been elected Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Representative on the Board of the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations (WAITRO).

Ike-Muonso secured a landslide victory in a keenly contested election held during the WAITRO Summit 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye, from October 26 to 28, defeating two other candidates to clinch the regional position.

The other contestants were Prof. Wellington Riach Liamba Masamba, Vice-Chancellor of the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), and Prof. Mohammed Aliyu Paiko, Vice-Chancellor of Abdulkadir Kure University (AKUM), Nigeria.
His election is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s participation in international discussions on scientific research, technological innovation and industrial development, while providing Sub-Saharan Africa with a stronger voice in WAITRO’s governance and decision-making processes.
The development also presents an opportunity to advance research priorities and promote international partnerships capable of translating scientific discoveries into practical industrial applications across the continent.

WAITRO is a global association of industrial and technological research organisations committed to promoting collaboration, knowledge exchange and strategic partnerships among research institutions, universities, industries and other innovation stakeholders.
Through its global network, the organisation provides a platform for strengthening research cooperation, facilitating technology transfer and promoting innovative solutions to industrial and developmental challenges.
Ike-Muonso’s emergence comes against the backdrop of RMRDC’s efforts to promote research-driven industrialisation, indigenous raw materials development, value addition and technology commercialisation in Nigeria.

Under his leadership, the Council has intensified efforts to bridge the gap between research institutions and industry, promote the commercialisation of research findings, encourage local processing of raw materials and support the development of a competitive manufacturing sector.
The Council has also pursued strategic partnerships with national and international institutions to leverage global expertise, strengthen indigenous technological capacity and accelerate Nigeria’s industrial development.
His election to the WAITRO Board is therefore expected to provide a broader international platform for advancing these objectives through increased collaboration and stronger engagement with research and technology organisations across Africa and other regions.

In particular, the position could facilitate knowledge sharing, encourage technology transfer, strengthen institutional partnerships and promote the development of home-grown technological solutions to Africa’s industrial and economic challenges.
For Nigeria and the wider Sub-Saharan African region, the election represents an opportunity to secure greater visibility and participation in global research and innovation initiatives, while promoting the effective utilisation of scientific knowledge and indigenous resources for sustainable economic growth.

The WAITRO Summit 2026 brought together representatives of research and technology organisations, universities, industries, policymakers and innovation partners from different parts of the world to explore collaborative approaches to research, technological innovation and sustainable development.