ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RAW MATERIALS INFORMATION SYSTEM

Dr. E. A. Thompson

Raw Materials Research and Development Council

Presented at the Summit on the State of Local Raw Materials Research and Development in Nigeria held at the Abuja Sheraton Hotels and Towers.

Oct. 31st - Nov.1st 2007

INTRODUCTION:

The Raw Materials Information System, a databank, developed by the Council to process, store and disseminate information from enormous data gathered by the Council based on the set of survey conducted on pertinent subjects. The system stores and generates technical information on local sourcing of raw materials, process technology, equipment selection, product formulation and development of indigenous R&D activities etc. In effect, RMIS was designed to make RMRDC a national focal point for information on raw materials development.

I wish to recall that the nation’s quest for industrialization and self-reliance in the local sourcing of raw materials as inputs for PRIVATE the existing industries informed the establishment of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in 1988. 

The RMIS project is therefore regarded as an institution-building avenue for creating a sustainable national capability to provide relevant information and documentation on raw materials development.  The information system generates technical information on local sourcing of raw materials, processing technology, equipment selection, new products formulation/development, efficiency enhancement of indigenous R&D activities, standardization/certification, testing and quality control, productivity improvement, consultancy and advisory services.

The overall objectives of the RMIS include the following:-

            -           Serves as centres for design and implementation of raw material information
                systems,   collection, storage and utilization of information on such materials.

-          Develops a group of data banks on raw materials sourcing, technologies, utilization, and development. 

-          Exchanges information with other national, regional and international organizations involved in the processing and utilization of industrial raw materials for the purpose of dissemination to the end-users.

-           Utilizes the networking and data communications techniques to interlink with public and private centre of information.

-           Helps RMRDC achieve the goal of being a national, regional and international focal point for dissemination of information.

-           Serves as a training centre for users on the proper use of information for the purposes of raw materials development and utilization.

-           Serves as an essential tool for planning and decision-making.

-           Subscribes to some of the international on-line databases in the field of raw materials for up-to-date information on the best technologies for development and processing of raw materials. 

-           Provides adequate and up-to-date stock of materials to cater for the technical information needs of investors and industrialists. 

-          Acquires, organizes and maintain literature and audio-visual materials pertinent to the activities of the RMRDC.

-           Utilizes computerized bibliographic databases relevant to the objectives of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council and other countries of the Group 77 and G15.

-           Disseminates scientific and technical information on raw materials to scientists and industrialists through various means. 

-          Publishes and distributes from time to time, current and retrospective bibliographies, library guides and book catalogues on subjects of interest to the industrial sector.

The procedure for the implementation of activities to support the RMIS involves the following:-

·     Collection of technical data on raw materials by the Council.

·     Data storage, analysis, information processing and management using  RMIS/Database.

·     Application of various information dissemination platforms for effective dissemination of processed information to end users.

COLLECTION OF TECHNICAL DATA ON RAW MATERIALS.

Over the years the Council has consistently collected data on raw materials from both primary and secondary sources in order to provide accurate, timely and reliable information on economic and industrial planning for the country.

The data being collected on raw materials include name, location, specification, utilization, users, suppliers, prices, process technology, national reserve, inventory of experts, etc.

The procedure for primary data collection involves planning and implementation of surveys while the secondary source of data collection is achieved through collaboration with relevant agencies.

In this regard, the Techno-Economic Survey of the ten industrial sectors of the Manufacturer Association of Nigeria (MAN) is one of the cardinal programmes of Raw Materials Research and Development Council since its inception.

The survey enables the Council to obtain up-to-date data on the capacity utilization of the manufacturing sector, collect, collate and analyze the data on the raw materials requirements of each sector, determine priority areas of raw materials development, access the processing technologies and information dissemination to investors about the available local raw materials.

The published data from these surveys also require periodic updating. These 10 sectors making up the Multi-Disciplinary Task Force (MTF) are:

                 -     Motor Vehicles and Miscellaneous

-     Electrical Electronics

-     Food, Beverage and Tobacco

-     Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals

-     Base Metals, Iron and Steel and Engineering Services

-     Non-Metallic Minerals

-     Wood and Wood Products

-     Pulp, Paper Products, Printing and Publishing

-     Textile, Wearing Apparel, Leather and Leather Products

-     Domestic and industrial Plastics, Rubber and Foam

As at today, the various surveys that have been conducted by the Council include;

DATA STORAGE, ANALYSIS, INFORMATION PROCESSING AND MANAGEMENT USING RMIS/DATABASE

The Council in 1989 established a databank called the Raw Materials Information System (RMIS) to process, store and disseminate information from enormous data collected by the Council.  The system stores and generates technical information on local sourcing of raw materials, process technology, equipment selection, product formulation and development, indigenous R&D activities, etc.  In effect, RMIS was designed to make RMRDC a national focal point for information on raw materials development.

Presently, the new graphical version of the RMIS comprising of the underlisted modules have been completed and already in use by the Council. 

(a)               Raw Materials Profile

(b)              Profile of Processing Industries/Fabricators

(c)               Inventory of Experts/Profile of Resource Persons

(d)              Investment Profile

INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

The various platforms of information dissemination on raw materials activities of the Council include the following;

·        Publications, Newsletter, Journals, Annual Reports and Update Magazines

·        Documentation of all Council’s Reports and Publications on CDs

·        Hosting of Reports/Publication on the Council’s website

·        Workshops, Seminars and Training activities of the Council

Publications

The Council publishes books, journal, magazine and briefs from array of privilege information on various areas of raw materials development.  The publications are made available to the general public in hardware or software.  The information available in the publications is also fed into the RMIS or in the CD-ROM.

So far, the Council has published over 200 titles in various fields relating to its mandate (see Appendix A).  The Council makes its publications available to interested public through donations, library exchange, subscription and direct sale at local and international trade fairs and exhibitions.  In 2006 alone, a total 25,320 volumes of publications worth over N25 Million was donated to various groups of stakeholders in Nigeria.  A summary of the donation is presented below:

A number of the Council’s publications are available in form of periodicals, which are described below:

 (i)        Technical Briefs on Agriculture and Mineral Raw Materials: 

This publication serves the need of investors and researchers as it provides information on the investment potentials, chemical characteristics, occurrences, industrial uses and status of exploitation or cultivation of the resource.  So far the Council has published Technical Brief on the following agricultural resource, namely:  Benniseed (sesame), Castor, Cassava, Citrus, Oil palm, e.t.c, while the published Technical Brief on mineral resources include the following: Kaolin, Bentonite, Limestone, Gypsum, Barytes, Talc, Phosphate, Tantalite, Trona, Mica, Silica Sand/Quartz, ilmenite, gold, diatomite, feldspar, e.t.c.

(ii).       Raw Materials Update Magazine: 

The Council commenced the publishing of a resource-based investment magazine, entitled “Raw Materials Update Magazine” in year 2000.  The purpose of introducing this magazine is to enable it publish information about the nation’s industrial raw materials viz a viz developments in other developed and developing economies of the world.  The magazine is also published for the purpose of recognizing the commendable efforts of individuals and corporate bodies that have contributed immensely towards the development of locally available raw materials through utilization, processing and establishment of local resource-based industrial projects in Nigeria.  The magazine is published bi-annually and so far eleven (11) editions have been published with the 12^th one already at the press.  The following is a summary of the published magazine editions:

 iii)       Journal of Raw Materials Research: 

The Council commenced the publishing of a journal entitled “Journal of Raw Materials Research” in 2004.  The purpose of establishing a journal is to create a platform for scientists, researchers and industrialists involved in raw materials research and development to share scientific and technological knowledge and experiences that could be of benefit to sustainable industrial development.  The journal covers the fields of agriculture, minerals, new and advance materials, petrol-chemicals and engineering.  Greater emphasis is placed on applied research findings, which have potential applications to the improvement of industrial processes, particularly those that relate to the fields mentioned above.  The Council to date, has published three editions and the forth one is at an advance stage with the press.

3.  Library Services

The Council maintains a modern and well-stocked library, which serves as a veritable source of information dissemination to complement the RMIS.  In order to satisfy specialized field of raw materials development, the library regularly updates its stock by acquiring vital information materials in the fields of interests, such as agriculture, Geology, industry, social sciences, e.t.c.  Some of these materials come in the forms of books, monographs, journals, reports, dissertation, pamphlets, reprints, maps, and films, CD-ROM Databases.   The total library collections as at date are as follows:

 .           Books and monographs (5, 668 volumes)                    

.           Periodicals (462 titles)

.           Articles from journals (838 volumes)

.           CD-ROM databases (85 titles)

.           Industrial films (50 titles)

In order to effectively play its role as a facilitator of information dissemination, the library acquires modern facilities to ease storage and retrieval.  Some of the facilities include:

         (i) The X-LIB Library Automation system

The X-LIB Library Automation System is software that was developed in 1997 by the Council in collaboration with BERAM Limited, Lagos.   The latest version of the software is made into four modules namely: Acquisition, Catalogue, Circulation and Enquiries.  In its full compliment, the X-LIB is user-friendly and allows for easier navigation, automatic generation of library membership cards, create notice board for information exchange, configuration for individual library, security access levels and facilitates unlimited number of users on network

Over twenty-five (25) libraries in Nigeria are currently running on X-LIB for their operations and services.

In addition, the Council acquired Windows version of the mini micro CDS/ISIS software developed by UNESCO in Paris.  In 2000 all the library-holding records earlier available on the DOS version were converted to Windows environment to make it user-friendlier. Apart from the bibliographic database for the management of the library resources, a mailing list database was created with relevant information of the library users. 

    (ii) Printing Press

The Council established a Printing Press to handle all Council’s publications as a cost saving measure.  The printing press is under the supervision of the Council’s library and when fully operational by acquiring the post-press facilities and the manpower needs are fully met, the press is capable of printing all the Council’s titles and handle printings through commercialization.  The Council Printing Press is currently printing few of Council’s publications, such as the Survey Reports, Raw Materials Update Magazine, Council’s Newsletter and Questionnaires.

4.  Development of LAN WAN and VSAT

The Council implemented its first copper wire based (otherwise know as category 3 cable) Local Area Network (LAN) in 1995 for the purpose of facilitating the delivery of quality services and also be abreast of developments in Information Technology. The project witnessed the networking of about forty personal computer systems and their associated peripherals with the sole aim of ensuring effective and efficient processing of data and resource sharing amongst users thereby engendering tremendous improvement in service delivery. The Local Area Network was subsequently upgraded to a modern optical fibre in year 2000.

Meanwhile, the RMRDC VSAT/WAN commenced in 2002 with installation at the Council’s headquarters in Abuja.  The Network was later expanded to sixteen (16) remote locations, in order to accommodate some Research Institutes under the Ministry of Science and Technology as well as the RMRDC Liaison Offices.  Subsequent expansion was carried out in year 2005 with additional twenty-six (26) remote locations connected to the network.  The RMRDC VSAT project is an integral part of the Public Service Network (PSnet), which was conceived for the purpose of addressing associated problems of duplication and repetition of research works in various Research and Development Institutions in Nigeria. It was also aimed at making available information on research findings to industries for possible adaptation in manufacturing. The VSAT project has evidently facilitated data exchange, resource sharing and information dissemination within and among RMRDC Headquarters, Liaison Offices, Agencies under the FMST and the entire research institutions. The list of beneficiary Agencies are provided under Appendix B

Distribution of all the VSAT installation is shown in figures. i & ii below).

5. Development of Council’s Websites

The Council website was installed in 2002. The purpose is to promote the Council’s activities on information superhighway otherwise known as Internet. The website provides information about Council’s mandates, activities, key projects and programmes, raw materials inventory on Local Government basis, Briefs on resource-based projects, the Council’s publications, list of equipment/machinery Fabricators, etc.   At periodic interval, the Website which is data driven is updated to reflect information on new activities of the Council.  In addition, the Council also coordinates the Website for the G15 project.

The website has been very useful and purposeful in relating the activities of the Council on the Internet. It has greatly facilitated the promotion and dissemination of Council’s activities in areas such as raw materials research and development, technological innovations and development, etc.

THE TASK AHEAD 

The major challenge is in generating the interest of investors to the possibilities inherent in the nation’s enormous resource endowments by creating a rich source of information reservoir and be able to service enquiries arising therefrom timely, adequately and efficiently so as to inspire confidence in the viability of the available raw materials as input to manufacturing in Nigeria.

The task ahead therefore, is for the Council to develop a more efficient and effective RMIS that would be an international rallying point for all the stakeholders in the industrial sector of the economy.

This could be actualized by relying on functional information and documentation systems to support the RMIS. 

This could only be possible through the following:

In effect, the Council must attain the status of a one-stop information and documentation center by developing its RMIS into international standards that would be very convenient and capable of generating detailed information on raw materials to local and foreign investors wherever and however.

In addition, all the complementary support to the RMIS must be equally made vibrant while the staff are trained to regularly provide accurate and updated information reflecting the dynamisms in information management and dissemination for developing the industrial sector in a sustainable manner.

This is necessary also in order to create an interactive platform for the exchange of ideas among stakeholders in the industrial sector.

It is therefore hoped that the new RMIS as envisaged, would be able to garner awareness and interest by drawing foreign investments into raw materials development and resource-based manufacturing industries.

These are the task ahead for the Information and Computer Services Department and they are achievable in the foreseeable future.

APPENDIX B
BENEFICIARIES OF RMRDC VSAT PROJECT
First Phase

1.      Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Headquarters

2.      Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi Lagos

3.      Project Development Agency, Enugu

4.      National Research Institute for Chemical Technology and CHELTEC, Zaria

5.      The office of the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Abuja

6.      National Office for Technology Adaptation, Abuja

7.      The office of the Director General (RMRDC)

8.      Directors of RMRDC (2 points)

9.      Ministry of Science and Technology

10.  RMRDC Liaison Office, P/Harcourt, Rivers State

11.  RMRDC Liaison Office, Ikeja, Lagos State

12.  RMRDC Liaison Office, Kaduna, Kaduna State

13.  RMRDC Liaison Office, Bauchi, Bauchi State

14.  RMRDC Liaison Office, Makurdi, Benue State

15.  RMRDC Liaison Office, Enugu, EnuguState

  
Second Phase

1.                   RMRDC Liaison Office, Maiduguri, Borno State

2.                  RMRDC Liaison Office,  Jimeta, Adamawa State

3.                  RMRDC Liaison Office, Kano, Kano State

4.                  RMRDC Liaison Office, Sokoto, Sokoto State

5.                  RMRDC Liaison Office, Dutse, Jigawa State

6.                  RMRDC Liaison Office, Minna, Niger State

7.                  RMRDC Liaison Office, Ilorin, Kwara State

8.                  RMRDC Liaison Office, Mushin, Lagos State

9.                  RMRDC Liaison Office, Oshogbo, Osun State

10.              RMRDC Liaison Office, Abeokuta, Ogun State

11.              RMRDC Liaison Office, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State

12.              RMRDC Liaison Office, Owerri, Imo State

13.              RMRDC Liaison Office, Umuahia, Abia State

14.              RMRDC Liaison Office, Awka, Anambra State

15.              RMRDC Liaison Office, Calabar, Cross-Rivers State

16.              RMRDC Liaison Office, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State

17.              National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Abuja

18.              National Centre for Technology Management (NACETEM), Ile-Ife

19.              National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA)

20.              Centre for Adaptation of Technology (CAT), Awka

21.              Bio-resources Development Agent  (BDA), Odi,

22.              Scientific Equipment Development Institute (SEDI), Enugu

23.              Engineering Materials Development Institute (EMDI), Akure

24.              Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI) Ota

25.              RMRDC Printing and Publishing Centre, Utako District, Abuja

26.              Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), Abuja

 The end users:

           Industrialists, Researchers, Investors and Individuals in all State of the Federation

          Relevance to the National Priorities:

            a.                The project will promote industrial development.

 b.               The project fits into the Federal Government National Economic


Empowerment Development Strategy (NEEDS) and compliment Public Service Network (PSnet) project.