Raw materials council unveils digital reforms, new industrial agenda at 38th anniversary

Nigeria’s industrial transformation push received a boost on Tuesday as the Raw Materials, RMRDC) unveiled sweeping digital reforms and a new industrial policy framework aimed at accelerating local sourcing, import substitution, and manufacturing competitiveness.

Speaking at the council’s 38th anniversary celebration in Abuja, Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, director general and chief executive officer of the agency, said Nigeria must urgently transition from raw commodity exports to a technology-driven manufacturing economy anchored on domestic raw material utilisation.

He said the new strategy aligns with the federal government’s drive to deepen industrialisation, strengthen economic resilience, and reduce Nigeria’s exposure to global supply chain shocks.

“Our goal is to shift Nigeria decisively from raw material dependency to industrial value creation. This is not optional. It is a national economic imperative,” Ike-Muonso said.

A major highlight of the anniversary was the unveiling of the Raw Materials Information Management System, RMIMS, a digital platform designed to provide real-time data on Nigeria’s raw material availability, processing technologies, investment opportunities, and supply chains.

According to Ike-Muonso, the platform will serve as a national industrial intelligence backbone, giving manufacturers, investors, researchers, and policymakers seamless access to strategic data required for industrial planning and decision-making.

He said the platform integrates geospatial mapping, mineral and agricultural databases, research outputs, and technology transfer frameworks, allowing users to identify raw material sources, processing options, and commercial opportunities across Nigeria.

“This is a game changer. For the first time, Nigeria will have a unified, data-driven system guiding raw materials development and industrial investment,” he said.

The council also announced progress on its Strategic Minerals and Materials Management System, SMMMS, designed to monitor strategic industrial minerals, enhance traceability, and strengthen regulatory oversight.38 years of industrial foundation.

Ike-Muonso said the council’s journey since its establishment in 1987 reflects Nigeria’s evolving industrial ambitions, adding that RMRDC has consistently worked behind the scenes to build indigenous industrial capacity.

He said over the decades, the council has facilitated technology development in cassava processing, cashew processing, fruit juice production, mineral beneficiation, paint manufacturing inputs, barite processing for oil drilling, and fabrication of industrial equipment.

“These interventions have helped create domestic supply chains that once depended entirely on imports,” he said.

He disclosed that RMRDC has registered 46 patents across various areas of raw material processing, while also supporting universities, research institutes, and fabricators with equipment, training, and funding.

Presenting the anniversary lecture, Azikwe Onwualu, president, African University of Science and Technology, AUST, and former director general of RMRDC, said the council has been central to Nigeria’s industrial development, particularly in empowering small and medium-scale enterprises

Onwualu said, “The RMRDC pioneered pilot plants for cassava processing, shea butter extraction, mineral beneficiation, chalk production, and paint raw material development, enabling Nigerian firms to localise production.

“Today, many machines used for agro and mineral processing in Nigeria are fabricated locally. This capability was built through RMRDC’s early intervention programmes,” he said.

He said the council also played a critical role in the development of Nigeria’s barite processing industry, significantly reducing imports used in oil and gas drilling operations.

Ike-Muonso further disclosed that the council is backing a new policy framework requiring at least 30 per cent local raw material utilisation in industrial production, describing it as a major catalyst for industrial growth, job creation, and foreign exchange conservation.

He said the policy, now awaiting presidential assent, will transform Nigeria’s manufacturing base by forcing a shift towards domestic sourcing.

“This policy is the single most important industrial lever Nigeria has introduced in decades. It will unlock value chains, stimulate investment, and strengthen national economic security,” he said

He said the council’s broader strategy focuses on deepening backward integration, expanding local manufacturing capacity, and driving Nigeria toward industrial independence.

“We are determined to replace potential with performance. Nigeria has the resources, the talent, and the market. What we need is disciplined execution,” Ike-Muonso said.

He added that the council’s digital platforms will support this agenda by enhancing transparency, investment planning, and technology diffusion across industrial sectors.

By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja

Ruth Tene, Assistant Editor, Agric/Solid Minerals/INEC Ruth Tene is an award-winning journalist with over 15 years experience in developmental reporting across several newsrooms, as a reporter, editor and other managerial roles. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Maiduguri among several other certifications She has attended several trainings and certifications both locally and internationally and has been recognized for her impactful work in humanitarian reporting, receiving the Gold Award for Humanitarian Services from the Amazing Grace Foundation. She is also a recipient of the Home Alliance Fellowship, reflecting her commitment to fostering a more humane, safer and more sustainable planet. An active member of professional journalism bodies, Ruth is affiliated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), and the Agricultural Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ACAN), where she continues to advocate for excellence, ethical reporting, and development-focused journalism.