Professor Nnanyelugo Martin Ike-Muonso is the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC). In this interview with LEO SOBECHI, he examines the prospects and challenges of harnessing the benefits of Nigeria’s rich raw material deposits
Give us a sense of what RMRDC is about and how far it has fared in its core mandate?
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) was established to drive Nigeria’s industrial growth by promoting the development and optimal utilisation of the country’s vast raw material resources. Since its inception, the Council has focused on identifying, developing, and linking local raw materials to the industrial sector. It has carried out extensive resource mapping and has helped industries tap into several indigenous sources of inputs like kaolin, barite, cassava, gum Arabic and so on. By encouraging backward integration and supporting local sourcing, RMRDC has played a crucial role in reducing the country’s dependence on imported raw materials. The Council has also served as a vital bridge between research institutions and industries, ensuring that scientific discoveries and technological innovations are transformed into practical solutions for manufacturers. Only recently, we signed agreements on collaborative activities on research and development and research output commercialisation with 39 universities in Nigeria.
Over the years, RMRDC has supported several pilot projects and facilitated partnerships that promote processing raw materials into semi-finished and finished goods, particularly among small and medium enterprises. It has produced valuable resource data, investment guides, and feasibility studies that have informed both government policy and private sector investments. While it has made significant progress, especially in advocating for local content and boosting industrial linkages, challenges such as limited funding, low uptake of local innovations, and infrastructural gaps still persist. Nonetheless, RMRDC remains a vital institution in Nigeria’s drive toward self-reliance and industrial competitiveness, steadily pushing the country closer to realising its full potential in raw materials development.
Africa is well known for raw materials, but where does research come in?
Africa is rich in raw materials, from minerals to agricultural resources, but the true value of these assets can only be unlocked through research. Research transforms raw potential into real economic power. It helps us understand the properties of our resources, develop better ways to extract and process them, and create technologies that add value locally rather than exporting them in their crude forms. Without research, we remain raw wealth exporters and finished goods importers, missing out on jobs, innovation, and sustainable growth. Through research, we can drive industrialisation, develop homegrown solutions, and ensure that the wealth beneath our feet translates into prosperity for our people.
The correlation between research and development points to industrialisation. Would you say that the low level of industrialisation in Nigeria and Africa stems from poor research outcomes and adaptability?
Absolutely! The low level of industrialisation in Nigeria and much of Africa is deeply linked to weak research outcomes and a lack of adaptability. Industrialisation is not just about having raw materials; it is about having the knowledge and technology to transform those materials into finished goods, which begins with research. Unfortunately, much of our research remains theoretical, disconnected from the immediate needs of industry and national development. Many innovations never make it past the academic stage due to inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and limited collaboration between research institutions and the private sector.
To industrialise effectively, we must bridge the gap between knowledge and application. Research must be purposeful, demand-driven, and backed by strong policy support that encourages the commercialisation of local innovations. We also need industries open to adopting homegrown solutions rather than relying heavily on imported technologies. By fostering a culture of innovation and aligning research with real economic needs, Nigeria and Africa can move from being mere suppliers of raw materials to becoming hubs of production, technology, and global competitiveness.
What would you consider as the greatest impediments or drawbacks to industrial growth in Africa, particularly Nigeria?
One of Africa’s greatest impediments to industrial growth, particularly in Nigeria, is the persistent failure to add value to our abundant raw materials. We continue to export crude oil, unprocessed minerals, and agricultural produce only to import them back as expensive finished goods. This cycle drains our foreign exchange and denies us the opportunity to create jobs, build skills, and grow local industries. The lack of investment in research and development, poor infrastructure, and weak support for small and medium-scale enterprises make it difficult to process raw materials locally. Without proper value addition, the raw materials that should power our industries enrich economies elsewhere.
Another major setback is the disconnection between policy, research, and industrial practice. While policies may be well-intentioned, they are often poorly implemented or not aligned with the realities on the ground. There are also issues of inconsistent power supply, inadequate transport networks, and limited access to affordable financing for manufacturers. These structural weaknesses discourage long-term investment in processing industries. If Nigeria is to experience true industrial growth, we must confront these challenges head-on by turning our raw materials advantage into industrial strength through innovation, infrastructure, and a firm commitment to building from within.
Between exploration, exploitation, and value addition, where do you think more stress and focus should be directed?
While raw materials exploration and exploitation are important, the real game-changer for Nigeria and Africa lies in value addition. We have spent decades discovering and extracting resources, yet we remain stuck in the cycle of exporting raw commodities and importing finished products. This model limits economic growth, stifles job creation, and keeps our industries underdeveloped. Knowing what we have underground or in our fields is not enough.
What truly matters is what we do with it. By investing more in processing, manufacturing, and innovation, we can multiply the worth of our raw materials, create skilled employment, and boost our capacity to compete globally.
Value addition turns potential into power. It transforms cocoa into chocolate, crude oil into petrochemicals, and cotton into garments. This is where industries are built, and this is where economies begin to rise. Instead of focusing all our energy on discovering more raw materials, we need to channel that energy into building industries that can refine, process, and create products for local and international markets. It is time to shift from resource to value-rich, which begins with a greater emphasis on adding value right here at home.
In the area of promotion of local content, how far has RMRDC under your watch spurred industrial growth?
Under my leadership, the RMRDC has taken bold and strategic steps to reposition Nigeria’s industrial landscape, emphasising value addition and economic self-reliance. One of our proudest milestones has been sponsoring a landmark bill currently before the National Assembly, which seeks to prohibit the export of raw materials without at least 30 per cent value addition. This is not just a policy move but a patriotic call to action. It is about ending the decades-long practice of exporting wealth in its raw form and importing it back at exorbitant costs. We believe that value must be created here, jobs must be created here, industries must rise here, and our future must be built here. This bill, when passed, will be a turning point in our journey toward true industrialisation and economic sovereignty.
To support this transformative agenda, we have also established the Raw Materials and Products Statistical Information System (RaMP-SIS), a first-of-its-kind data platform designed to provide real-time information on raw materials’ availability, demand, and location nationwide. Though foundational, this system bridges the gap between research, policy, and industry, and empowers investors with reliable data to make informed decisions. Our broader strategy is to remove the guesswork from industrial planning and create a seamless ecosystem for raw material development and utilisation. In the same spirit, we proudly announce the upcoming Africa Raw Materials Summit, which RMRDC is spearheading. This summit will bring together stakeholders from across the continent to deepen conversations on value addition, technology transfer, and intra-African trade in raw materials, in line with the goals of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It is about uniting Africa, not just in trade, but in transformation, that is turning our resources into prosperity for our people.
Our success in these efforts has been greatly reinforced by the deepening of strategic relationships, particularly with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment. These partnerships have enabled us to align our research with the real needs of industry, foster a policy environment that supports local production, and advocate for backward integration with a unified voice. We are building a new industrial narrative rooted in self-sufficiency, innovation, and shared progress for Nigeria. We at RMRDC are not just executing a mandate; we are answering a national call, driven by the belief that Nigeria has all it takes to rise, not just as a raw material hub, but as a leader in value-added industrial development on the African continent.
Based on your wide span of experience, in what ways can the country leapfrog innovation for development and rapid industrialisation?
From my vast experience in raw materials development and industrial policy, I believe Nigeria can leapfrog innovation and fast-track industrialisation by embracing a deliberate, well-funded, and well-coordinated national innovation agenda. Innovation does not have to follow a slow, linear path. We can bypass outdated models by investing directly in cutting-edge technologies, supporting homegrown research, and fostering a culture of creativity and problem-solving. We need to empower our universities, polytechnics, and research institutes to produce knowledge and solve real industrial problems. By promoting local inventors, scaling up indigenous technologies, and ensuring that research outcomes are not left on the shelves, we can accelerate our development far beyond the traditional pace.
More importantly, we must build strong linkages between research, industry, and government. Policies must incentivise innovation, funding must be accessible, and success stories must be celebrated and scaled. Strategic partnerships with the private sector, especially through platforms like the MAN, can serve as vehicles to test and adopt local innovations. Infrastructure for incubation, rapid prototyping, and technology deployment must be developed to support this ecosystem. With the right political will, smart investments, and a patriotic drive to use what we have to build what we need, Nigeria can indeed leapfrog into a future where industrialisation is not just a dream, but a daily reality powered by innovation.
How can raw material exploitation surmount the twin challenges of energy transition and environmental sustainability?
Raw material exploitation can surmount the twin challenges of energy transition and environmental sustainability by embracing cleaner, more efficient resource extraction and processing technologies. By prioritising renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower for industrial activities, we can reduce the carbon footprint of raw material industries. Additionally, adopting circular economy principles, where waste is minimised, and materials are reused, will significantly reduce environmental degradation. Investing in green technologies and eco-friendly practices ensures that raw material exploitation drives economic growth and preserves the planet for future generations. With innovation and strong policy enforcement, we can align industrialisation with energy transition and sustainability goals.
All the talk about raw material development will end up as a chimera in the absence of commerce. What snags have you been able to isolate in the plan to up the commercial aspect of research and development?
The commercial aspect of raw material development cannot flourish if we do not bridge the gap between research and market-ready products. One major snag we have identified is the lack of robust commercialisation strategies for innovations, where research outcomes often fail to reach the market due to limited access to funding, market intelligence, and industry partnerships. Additionally, there is a persistent disconnect between academic research and the practical needs of the private sector, which hampers the translation of ideas into viable products. To address this, we need stronger collaborations with industry players, better access to venture capital, and policies that encourage market-driven research. By strengthening these links, we can ensure that innovation does not just stay in labs but leads to real economic impact.
As the maiden edition of African Raw Materials Summit takes place in Abuja, in what ways could such jaw-jaw help in shaping the future of Africa’s resource landscape?
In less than four weeks, Abuja will host the maiden edition of the Africa Raw Materials Summit, and this is a defining moment for the continent. With its theme focusing on unlocking the potential of Africa’s raw materials for sustainable industrial growth, the summit provides a unique platform for cross-border collaboration, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships. By bringing together key stakeholders from governments, the private sector, academia, and civil society, we can begin to forge a collective vision for the future, one where Africa moves beyond being a mere exporter of raw commodities and becomes a leader in value-added industries. Discussions will revolve around leveraging our vast resource base to fuel industrialisation, create jobs, and reduce dependency on foreign imports, laying the groundwork for a more self-reliant and prosperous Africa.
Moreover, the summit will serve as a catalyst for intra-African trade, in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, allowing African countries to share best practices, build capacity, and establish regional supply chains. By focusing on innovation, sustainable extraction, and environmental responsibility, the summit will not only shape Africa’s resource landscape but also inspire policy changes and investments that prioritise long-term development. It is an opportunity for Africa to collectively redefine its role in the global economy and chart a new course towards sustainable growth, driven by our own raw materials and the power of collaboration.
There is a growing perception that the Asians, particularly the Chinese, are reaping from Africa’s rich raw materials without commensurate returns. How can this imbalance, both in terms of revenue and skill, be addressed?
The growing perception that Africans are not receiving fair returns from the exploitation of their rich raw materials, particularly by Chinese and other Asian players, is a legitimate concern that must be addressed with urgency. The current model often sees Africa’s resources extracted and shipped out with limited value added, while the real economic benefits, such as skilled jobs and technological advancements, remain largely in the hands of foreign companies.
To redress this imbalance, Africa must adopt a more strategic approach to resource extraction by ensuring that any agreement includes provisions for local value addition, technology transfer, and skill development. We must insist on terms that prioritise the training of local workers, encourage joint ventures that involve local businesses, and mandate that more processing takes place within Africa before raw materials are exported.
Additionally, African countries must come together to renegotiate trade deals, ensuring that they are more equitable and aligned with long-term development goals. By strengthening our policy frameworks and focusing on building local capacity, we can shift the focus from mere extraction to sustainable, value-driven growth. With the right partnerships, we can unlock the true potential of our raw materials, creating wealth, boosting innovation, and empowering local communities. It is about ensuring that the full benefits of Africa’s resources are felt within the continent, through investments in infrastructure, industries, and skills development, so that future generations can truly reap the rewards of their own natural wealth.
At the 2025 Raw Materials Summit, what would your message to participants emphasise?
As we hold the 2025 Raw Materials Summit, my message to all participants would be one of unity, urgency, and action. We have spent valuable time discussing the immense potential of Africa’s raw materials, but it is now time to transition from dialogue to tangible outcomes. We must leave the Summit with a shared commitment to ensuring that Africa’s resources translate into sustainable growth, job creation, and technological advancement for our people. The future of Africa lies not in exporting raw materials but in processing them into finished goods, creating industries, and building economies that stand on their own.
I would urge all stakeholders, governments, industry leaders, researchers, and investors to take collective responsibility for developing frameworks that prioritise local content, value addition, and the protection of our environment. Let us not forget that the power to drive change is in our hands. The policies we shape today, the partnerships we forge, and the investments we make will determine the future we leave for the next generation. By focusing on innovation, skills development, and intra-African trade, we can reshape the global perception of Africa from a continent rich in resources to one thriving on innovation and industrial capacity.
Finally, let us commit to holding ourselves accountable. This summit must be the beginning of a long-term commitment to changing the trajectory of Africa’s industrial development. We must act swiftly, intelligently, and collaboratively, ensuring that the raw materials we have today become the industries of tomorrow. Together, we can create a future where Africa not only reaps the benefits of its resources, but also leads the world in sustainable development, innovation, and economic transformation.
