The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has announced plans to generate over 1.2 million skilled jobs within five years through its proposed 30% value addition on Nigerian raw materials before export. This initiative is part of the council's efforts to shift Nigeria from exporting unprocessed commodities to domestic processing and manufacturing. The proposed Raw Materials 30% Mandatory Value Addition Bill is awaiting presidential assent and aims to conserve foreign exchange, strengthen the country's foreign reserves, and increase the contribution of manufacturing to the economy.
The Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, disclosed this information at a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the 2nd Africa Raw Materials Summit (ARMS 2026). The summit, scheduled for October 19 and 20, will bring together over 1,800 delegates from all 54 African countries and global industrial partners. The theme of this year's summit is "From African Feedstock to African Factories," which focuses on addressing structural barriers preventing African raw materials from reaching local manufacturing plants.
According to Ike-Muonso, the proposed bill is designed to promote domestic processing and manufacturing, reducing the country's reliance on exporting unprocessed commodities. The legislation will also help conserve foreign exchange through import substitution and strengthen the country's foreign reserves. The RMRDC boss emphasized that the summit will provide a platform for stakeholders to discuss policies and initiatives aimed at promoting resource-based industrialization across the continent.
The RMRDC has identified logistics and infrastructure, value addition, circular economy, regional value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and technology commercialization and access to capital as the five major pillars of the summit. Ike-Muonso highlighted that poor transportation networks, inadequate cold-chain facilities, and gaps in testing and certification continue to limit the movement of raw materials from farms and mines to processing facilities.
To address these challenges, the RMRDC has developed the Nigeria Integrated Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products (NISSRAMP), a digital platform providing information on raw material deposits, specifications, production outputs, and industrial absorption rates. The council has also secured ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certification and has been certified by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission as a Data Controller/Processor of Major Importance.
The RMRDC has also entered into an operational agreement with the Bank of Industry to support commercial-scale post-harvest processing and reduce supply-chain losses in commodities such as onions, grains, and industrial minerals. Additionally, the council has established a technology transfer partnership with the National Innovation Centre par Excellence (NICE) in Shanghai, China, to facilitate the commercialization of local research and development.
The 2026 edition of the Africa Raw Materials Summit aims to deepen the implementation of policies and initiatives launched at the maiden summit and strengthen efforts towards resource-based industrialization across the continent. Ike-Muonso urged the media to scrutinize the policies and track the implementation of the proposed 30% value-addition requirement, emphasizing the importance of accountability and reporting on Africa's industrial transformation.
Key points
- The proposed 30% value addition on raw materials could generate over 1.2 million skilled jobs within five years.
- The RMRDC has developed the Nigeria Integrated Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products (NISSRAMP) to provide information on raw material deposits and industrial absorption rates.
- The 2nd Africa Raw Materials Summit will bring together over 1,800 delegates from all 54 African countries and global industrial partners to discuss policies and initiatives aimed at promoting resource-based industrialization.
