HOW DOES
IT FUNCTION?
RMRDC functions through a
Governing Board, which reports to
The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, the
supervising Ministry. In the absence of
a Governing Board,
the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology takes
charge of the affairs of the Council.
RMRDC executes its mandate
under a five departmental structure made up of three technical
and two services departments and the Office of
the Director-General/Chief Executive, which oversees the
entire affairs of the Council.
These are:
TECHNICAL
Agricultural
and Agro Allied Department
(AAD)
Industrial
Chemical & Minerals Department (ICMD)
Industrial
Plant and Equipment Department
(IPED)
SERVICE
Office of
the Director-General/Chief Executive
Finance and Administration
Department (FAD)
Planning
& Information
Services Department
(PISD)
RMRDC operates a network of Coordinating
offices in the states of the Federation through which
information, consultancy and technical support needs of
investors, researchers and industrialists are met. In
addition, RMRDC maintains collaboration with the organized
private sectors, international bodies and research
institutions to strengthen the public private partnership
PPP) strategy of the economic reforms programme of the
Federal Government of Nigeria
RMRDC’s successes are achieved through the work of a well
managed Secretariat of less than 1,000 Staff headed by a
Director-General/Chief Executive Officers appointed by the
President and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Government
of Nigeria.
What It Does
RAW MATERIALS INFORMATION
A decision to invest in
resource processing depends on the information of what
resources are available. Through the Raw Materials
Information System (RMIS), the Council provides
valuable information to investors, industrialists and
researchers on available raw materials, their locations and
reserve estimates, physico-chemical properties and uses.
Decisions that are made on the strength of the information
provided by RMRDC ultimately leads to the establishment of
resource-based industries which provides new job
opportunities and contributes to the nation's gross domestic
product.
WORKING FOR RESOURCE UTILIZATION IN THE STATE
RMRDC provides industrial support services and promotes
new resource-based investments in the States of Federation.
This is achieved through its network of Coordinating offices
located in all state capitals. The Coordination offices do
not only assist in the survey of resources in the state,
they provide raw materials information to industrialists and
investors in the States and participate in supervision of
Council's projects in their locality. Also, the Coordinating
offices organize investors forums to sensitize investors on
the feasibilities of projects for which the States have
comparative advantage. In addition, Council promotes the
establishment of small scale resource based industries based
on research findings. This, it does in collaboration with
entrepreneurs, cooperative societies and community based
organizations.
PROMOTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS TECHNOLOGY
RMRDC embarked on the development of indigenous
technology after a techno-economic survey conducted by the
Council revealed a dearth of technology required to exploit
and process the nation's abundant agricultural and mineral
resources. Consequently, the Council conducted an Audit of
Indigenous and Emerging Technologies/Machinery for the
processing of Agro-Based and Mineral Based Raw Materials
leading to the compilation of a "Directory of Raw Materials
Producers, Process Equipment and Plant Manufacturers". The
Directory has provided market linkages between equipment
manufacturers and users. In addition, the Council uses its
biennial Techno-Exposition to promote domestic market for
locally fabricated equipment and machinery.
RMRDC is building domestic capacity for engineering designs
of process equipment including facilitating the birth of a
Foundation towards this goal. This effort is expected to
culminate in better efficiency, replicability, and
finishing/sophistication of equipment and machinery
manufactured locally.
SPONSORING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (R&D) ACTIVITIES
Under its National R&D programme, RMRDC funds research
efforts for development of industrial products, process
technologies and utilization of local raw materials.
Successful laboratory research are further supported by
RMRDC into the pilot plant stage, to encourage the
commercialization of such new industrial ventures. These
research efforts are executed in different higher
institutions of learning, research institutes and
industries.
UPGRADING OF RESEARCH LABORATORIES AND PROMOTING SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY IN NIGERIA.
To support local R&D efforts. RMRDC funds the upgrading
of research facilities in Research Institutes and
Universities by either replacing obsolete equipment or
refurbishing broken down equipment. Research Institutes such
as the Federal institutes of Industrial Research, Oshodi (FIIRO),
National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and
Development (NIPRD), Project Development Agency (PRODA),
National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT),
and Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis (NITR) have
benefited from this programme. The Universities that have
benefited include: Universities of Abuja, Lagos, Jos and
Port-Harcourt. Others are: Kano State University of
Technology, Enugu State University of Technology, and
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi. Also, the Council
donates science equipment and laboratory chemicals to
selected secondary schools across the nation to encourage
science education in Nigeria. Over 76 secondary schools have
benefited from this programme. In order to promote Science
and Technology activities in the states, concil supports
newly created Science and Technology ministries in states
with computer equipment. Over 10 states have benefited from
this.
PROMOTING NEW RESOURCE -BASED INVESTMENTS THROUGH
JOINT-VENTURE PROJECTS AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES.
To encourage growth of local resource-based industries,
RMRDC enters into partnership with industrialist-investors
or State governments to set up small scale industries to
process the raw materials available in their localities.
Examples are: Talc Processing Plant in Kagara (Niger State),
Phosphate Rock Beneficiation Plant in Sokoto, Kaolin
processing plant in Gwarzo, (Kano State), Soda Ash
Production Plant, Maiduguri (Borno State) and Fertilizer
Blending Plant, Enugu. Other such projects are: Granulated
Limestone Plant, Calabar, Pharmaceutical Grade kaolin plant,
kankara (Kastina State), Hydrated Lime Plant, Kwakuti (Niger
State) and Integrated Mineral Grinding Plant, Owerri. In
addition, RMRDC provides, for prospective investors,
advisory and technical support services which include
equipment sourcing and feasibility studies on local
resource-based industrial projects. The Council has a
Consultancy Services Division through which such supports
are provided to industrialists and investors, most times at
highly subsidized rates. In providing these services, RMRDC
counts on its over one decade operation in Nigeria's
industrial environment which now makes it a formidable
resource centre with respect to raw materials sourcing,
development and utilization.
SUPPORTING AGRO-INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIALS PRODUCTION
RMRDC has been supporting increased productivity of
agricultural raw materials since 1991 following a
techno-economic survey report which linked low capacity
utilization of many agro-based industries in Nigeria to
shortage of primary agricultural raw materials. Under its
Agro-Boosting programme, the Council procures from research
institutes and seed companies, improved seeds and seedlings
and distributes same to Farmers and Growers Associations in
areas which are ecologically suitable for their cultivation.
Crops so far promoted under this programme include:
Groundnut, Cotton, Soyabean, Maize, Kenaf, Sugarcane,
Ginger, Castor seed, Sorghum and Cassava. Others are:
Pineapple, Tomato, Pepper, Okro, Mango, Sesame seed and
carrot.
RMRDC has supported studies on organo-mineral fertilizers as
well as organic fertilizers as alternative sources to the
more expensive, scarce and non-environmentally-friendly
inorganic fertilizers. In addition, it supports local
development of planters, shellers, decorticators, threshers
and chipping and slicing machines. Efforts are also made in
the area of poultry, cattle, fish and other animal products.
PUBLIC POLICY ADVISORY SUPPORT
As a formidable resource centre, RMRDC has been playing
increasing advisory roles with respect to federal
Government's policy statements and formulations on
industrial raw materials matters. The Council provides the
Federal Government with data for use in fiscal policy
matters.
SERVING AS NIGERIA'S FOCAL POINT FOR INTERNATIONAL
COLLABORATION ON RAW MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT
The need for nations to control and maximize their
natural resource endowment and the obvious limitations
facing developing nations in resource trading and
development vis-a-vis advanced economic powers has made
Nigeria to show increased interest in the international
scene with respect to raw materials. Working in
collaboration with the National Planning Commission and the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, RMRDC has become Nigeria's
focal point for global interactions on raw materials
issues.Also, RMRDC is the headquarters of the Action
Committee on Raw Materials (ACRM) of the Group of 77 nations
of the United nations. The Council represents Nigeria in
many joint commissions, UNIDO and UNDP Expert Meetings, the
Technical Cooperation amongst Developing Countries (TCDC)
programmes and World Association of Industrial Technology
Research Organization (WAITRO) meetings, to mention a few.
PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL RAW MATERIALS RESEARCH INNOVATION
AND UTILIZATION THROUGH THE RAW MATERIALS LOCAL CONTENT
AWARDS.
The backward integration strategy of industrial
self-reliance and productivity is painstaking: requiring a
lot of ingenuity and patriotic drive by industries, research
establishments and individuals, who deserve encouragement.
The use of sorghum malt as alternative to imported barley
malt: maize and cassava flour as substitute to wheat flour
are examples of innovations by Nigerian industries which
deserve commendation. Since 1992, RMRDC has been giving raw
materials local content awards, biennially, to organizations
and individuals which have made outstanding contributions
towards the development and utilization of local raw
materials as industrial inputs and use of indigenous
technologies. This is to encourage and stimulate such
developments by other Nigerian industries.
KNOWING IS DOING
People do what they know. Consequently, RMRDC is
constantly working to make Nigerians aware of the potentials
of the resources God has endowed the nation with. The
Council does this through the media, publications,
exhibitions, seminars, conferences and workshops.
Since coming into operation in 1988, RMRDC has created
increased awareness on Nigeria's raw materials, their
locations and reserves, their potentials, development and
utilization and will continue to do so. This is the way to
ensure that their full potentials are exploited adequately
for the well-being of the citizens.
SOME RMRDC ACHIEVEMENTS
- The Council’s
Raw Materials Information System (RMIS), a unique data bank
on available raw materials in
Nigeria, their locations and reserve estimates, their
applicability, etc, is an immense contribution to the
information available on the nation’s resource endowment.
- The Council has
just completed the installation of VSAT facility in
Forty-two (42) remote sites, in addition
to the one
installed in the headquarters. This project is part of the
ways of disseminating R&D
data,
technical
information among researchers, entrepreneurs, industrialist
and the general public.
- RMRDC's
catalytic model factories and joint-venture programmes has
stimulated the establishment of
several
small-scale raw materials processing factories in Nigeria.
- RMRDC has
through several of its outreach programmes, created immense
awareness on local raw
materials sourcing, development and utilization.
- RMRDC has
raised the capacity for research and development (R&D)
activities in Nigeria through its
programme of upgrading R&D laboratory facilities in
research institutes and universities.
- RMRDC has
contributed immensely in raising indigenous engineering
capability with respect to the design,
fabrication and installation of complete raw materials
processing equipment or components.
- RMRDC has
also promoted the local market for indigenously fabricated
machinery and equipment through
its biennial Techno-Exposition programme.
- RMRDC
has, through its collaborations with State governments and
private investors, established a number
of small-scale raw materials processing plants all over
Nigeria.
- RMRDC has
made valuable contributions to Federal Government policies
as it affects industries,
exploitation of local resource endowment and tariff
matters on raw materials importation.
- RMRDC has
provided a platform through which Nigeria is actively
engaged in international activities affecting
raw materials exploitation, development and
utilization.
RMRDC
MILESTONES
1987 Decree
No. 39 establishing RMRDC promulgated by the Federal
Military Government general Ibrahim
Babangida
1988 February
10, the first Governing Board under the leadership of Chief
(Dr.) E. C. Iwuanyanwu was
inaugurated and RMRDC formally
began operation at No. 28, Berkley Street, Lagos
1988 Dr.
(Mrs.) Oluremi Aribisala appointed Director/CEO of RMRDC and
latter upgraded Director-Generated
1988/89 First
Techno-economic Survey of Nigeria's resource-endowment and
industrial sectors conducted by
RMRDC.
1989
September 9- Raw Materials Display Centre, a permanent
exhibition of Nigeria's vast agricultural and
mineral raw materials
declared opened by the then Honorable Minister OF Science
and Technology
Professor Emmanuel Emovon
1990
RMRDC commenced implementation of the programme of
Establishing Catalytic Model factories in
Nigeria
1991
First Governing Board dissolved and the second under the
Chairmanship of Chief Rufus Giwa appointed.
1992 First
Techno-Exposition, RMRDC biennial exhibition of equiptment
and machinery was held.
1992
First set of Merit Awards on Raw Materials Development and
Utilization were given
1993
Work commenced on its Abuja Headquarters building.
1994 Dr.
Abdullahi A. Aliyu appointed Director-General of RMRDC in
June.
1995
RMRDC relocated from Lagos to Abuja occupying a temporarily
rented office building.
1995 The
second Governing Board dissolved.
1996
RMRDC Headquarters building at Plot 427, Aguiyi Ironsi
Street.
