RMRDC: Africa Must Create Significant Wealth Through Value-added Raw Materials

Dike Onwuamaeze

The Director General of Raw Material Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Professor Nnanyelugo Ikemuonso, has declared that the time is ripe for Africa to create significant wealth for its people by focusing on value- added raw materials.

Ikemuonso made this assertion when he visited Lagos to mobilise Nigerian manufacturing firms to participate fully in the oncoming maiden edition of, “The Africa Raw Materials Summit 2025,” with the theme “Shaping the Future of Africa’s Resource Landscape,”

Among the industries that Ikemuonso visited in Lagos were; Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Chi Limited, Mouka Nigeria, Berger Paints Nigeria Plc and FAE Envelope.

He described the oncoming summit as a dynamic gathering designed to unite researchers, industrial leaders, policymakers, investors and key stakeholders across Africa and “spark innovative ideas, foster valuable partnership and explore strategies for transforming Africa’s raw materials into key drivers of industrial growth and sustainable economic development.”

He affirmed, “Africa has the potential to significantly increase its wealth by focusing on value added raw materials,” adding that the “summit will feature workshops and breakout sessions on strategies for converting raw materials into high-value finished products.

“This approach will help African nations capture wealth from their resources, reduce raw material exports and increase their participation in global markets through higher-value products.”

According to him, the summit will explore how Africa can become more competitive in the global raw materials market by positioning the continent in the international trade of raw materials and finished products.

Ikemuonso said: “Attending the Africa Raw Materials Summit 2025 will position you at the forefront of transforming Africa’s raw materials industry for the future.”

According to him, the summit will feature region-specific sessions focusing on East, West and Southern Africa’s raw material opportunities.

“This deep dive will provide insights into the distinct challenges and growth potential across the continent, ensuring participants understand the full scope of Africa’s raw materials landscape,” he said.

He explained that a key focus of the summit would be on building the capacity of Africa’s raw materials sector through the entire value chain from extraction to processing and value-added products.

He said: “By attending, participants will gain crucial knowledge on strengthening local industries, enhancing skills, and fostering technological innovation to create a sustainable and competitive raw materials value chain.”

He stated that expanding Africa’s capacity to process raw materials locally could unlock significant economic value, reduce dependency on export of unprocessed commodities and create job opportunities.

“So, we want to create opportunity for all stakeholders in the raw material value chain across the continent to speak to each other. We are looking at deepening the African market for raw materials. Some of your imports are outside the continent but I can assure you that a lot of them you can easily get within the continent even at the right price and quality. We are going to be emphasising value addition meaning that those raw materials will come to you within the continent at the right quality,” he said.

Also, the Consultant to RMRDC, Professor Benard Odoh, who is also the Chairman of the Africa Raw Material Summit, said that this is the vision behind a bill pending at the National Assembly that would make it mandatory that every raw material that is extracted from Nigeria must attain 30 per cent value addition before it should be exported out of the country.

Odo said: “The bill is aimed at achieving two things: one, no raw material would be allowed to leave the shores of Nigeria without attaining at least 30 per cent value addition.  It means opening the way for local processors to participate in the raw material segment. The next arm of that bill is that no raw material that exists in Nigeria is allowed to come in.  It has gone through first, second readings and public hearing. The Senate is about to pass that bill.”  

He added: “We are aware that most of the raw materials available are not processed to the point they will be used by local manufacturers, which constrained them to resort to importation.  Therefore the council has come up with a bill that any raw material that must leave Nigeria must be processed to 30 per cent to support your capacity to utilise what is locally available and reduce your import dependence.”