RMRDC, an agency of the Federal Ministry of Science, and Technology (FMST) has over 30 patents on technologies for raw materials processing. A two-time winner of the coveted first prize position under the research institutes categories of the 5th and 6th editions of the FMST Technology and Innovation expo. The agency continues to drive the process of raw material value addition in the country; BINTA SHAMA reports.
Technology, innovation complex
This charge has been taken to giddying heights in view of the Council’s achievements in recent times. The RMRDC newly commissioned Technology and Innovation complex (TIC) at the Obasanjo Space Center, Lugbe, sends out an intimidating impetus to the nation’s industrial climes a new direction for the nation’s industrialization quest, becoming an unequivocal clarion call for industrial rebirth through an anaerobic or homegrown solutions for the nation’s drive for global excellence in products formulation and manufacturing.
While commissioning the TIC project recently, Former President Muhammed Buhari described the complex as an innovation hub that will usher in a new era for scientific excellence, industrial transformation and national prosperity. Featuring over 41 pilot plants, the complex can be described as a center of excellence in raw material processing and process equipment manufacturing due to the fluid and meticulous adherence and application of global best practices fundamental principles of raw materials value chain development and utilization as industrial inputs.
The Buhari, who was represented at the inauguration ceremony last week by former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI), Senator (Dr.) Adeleke Mamora, said the TIC embodied the federal government’s vision of creating a thriving knowledge-based ecosystem where research, innovation and entrepreneurship converge. He said this while considering the fact that the emergence of an incubation center to blaze a trail in the formulation of cutting-edge technologies for raw materials processing to accelerate commercialisation of vital industry-based research and development projects held the key the nation’s industrial development future projections.
Professor Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, Director General (RMRDC), while conducting visitors round the facility, explained that the complex was established for commercialisation of research findings and industrialization of the economy.
In his address, Prof Ibrahim, said the complex which is the first of its kind in Africa, will serve as incubation center for technologies in the development of industrial raw materials.
The RMRDC boss is the fifth Director General/ CEO of RMRDC.
His efforts to rescue an ailing industrial sector and create a vibrant knowledge-based manufacturing template to guide activities in the sector for sustainability and competitiveness, is a daunting task which must be faced squarely. This is even as he avers that the major problem of the Nigerian manufacturing industry has been the inadequacy and even unavailability of raw materials for its production.
The need to add value to the nation’s numerous raw materials by developing a technology hub is therefore necessary to serve as catalyst for the emergence of a knowledge-driven industrial template for the country. He notes that the need to add value to the nation’s numerous raw materials has become germane in several respects. Among these is the need to save foreign exchange, provide job opportunities for the nations teeming youths, wealth creation and to ensure optimal capacity utilization by local industries.
Rapid growth of STI economy
Prior to 2015, Nigeria did not have a national policy on raw materials development. To address this, the Council, working with the private sector, developed the Raw Materials Development Master Plan. The Master Plan is a broad-based policy framework on the overall development of raw materials in the country. Implementation of the plan facilitated government diversification of the economy. It also supported the coordinated implementation of government initiatives in the change Agenda, National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), and the Economic recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). The plan is also associated with the Presidential Executive Order no. 5 of the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari which sought to give fillip to local content utilization of indigenous potential for the manufacture of goods and services in the country.
The competitiveness of economies is increasingly dependent on their capacity to create, use and propagate knowledge. This and a wide range of other factors of development, and in keeping with global standard requirements, makes it important to emphasise on knowledge as the chief driver of any development to occur.
Today the TIC complex stands out as council’s contribution to a knowledge – based manufacturing sector. With a mission to reposition the sector for sustainable growth using cutting edge process technology and scientific processes, the TIC will help in repositioning the manufacturing sector for greater contribution to the GDP and economy at large, whilst inspiring local ventures in raw materials sourcing, value addition and utilization for greater performance within the manufacturing ecosystem in the country and beyond.
The RMRDC is a focal point for raw materials development and utilization in Nigeria. Over the years it has recorded several milestone targeted at uplifting Nigeria’s industrial sector some of which include conducting a Techno-Economic Survey of Nigeria’s resource- endowment for the ten industrial sector in Nigeria between 1988 and 1989. This was to determine raw materials availability and utilisation by the industries in Nigeria.
The Raw Materials Resource Center was also established as a permanent exhibition of Nigeria’s vast agricultural and mineral raw materials and resources to attract investment into raw materials sourcing, development and utilisation.
The implementation of the programme on establishment of Catalytic Model factories and the commencement of RMRDC’s biennial Techno-Exposition in the early 1990s, marked a watershed in the efforts to bring focus to bear on the nation’s raw materials endowment.
The expo revolves around the exhibition of equipment and Machinery for the processing of raw materials into industrial inputs. Also it is in this same period, that the first set of Merit Awards on Raw Materials Development and Utilization were given.
The Council also established the Enugu Fertilizer Blending Plant, a joint venture project between RMRDC and Scentomix Nigeria Limited and the Granulated Limestone Processing Plant, in Calabar, Cross River state – also a joint-venture project of the RMRDC and Messrs. Suctone Ventures – to promote industrial drive in Nigeria.
Between July, 2006 and May, 2007 respectively, the made a public presentation of a Sheanut Processing Plant to Araromi Women Cooperative Society in Agbaku-Eji, Kwara state and that of Salt Processing Plant Fabricated by the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, for RMRDC. And by June, 2007, Milk Collection Centre Located in Paikon-Kore, Gwagwalada area of FCT was unveiled for use of small holder Fulani Pastoralists in that area.
The centre is a product of collaboration amongst the Council and, United States Agency for International Development (USAID-MARKETS) together with the Agricultural and Rural Development Secretariat of the FCT.
RMRDC recorded another milestone soon afterwards with the establishment of Essential oil plant in 2007.
The council commissioned the design and making of the Plant to Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa and National Research Institute for Chemical Technology (NARICT). And by October, 2008, public presentation of Wood Seasoning Kilin in Enugu was done.
In 2010, against the backdrop of the nation’s high demand, huge expenditure and heavy reliance on imported industrial chemicals and reagents for her educational aims Secondary and tertiary institutions; which if sourced locally would save the country millions of naira annually including job creation and advancing indigenous developed technologies, the Council, in collaboration with the (NARICT), facilitated the successful completion of a pilot plant for the production of laboratory of these vital components.
The plant was commissioned on July 26, 2010 at NARICT, Zaria, Kaduna state. This was as a follow up from the May, 2008 sensitization workshop at the Council Headquarters in Abuja and with the theme: “Moringa Oleifera as a Local Plant Resources for Achieving the Milennium Goals in Nigeria”.
Also, the Council, in partnership with Kogi state University (KSU), Anyigba, Kogi state, set up a Cashew Processing Plant as part of the Council initiative in advancing entrepreneurship growth and the emergence of enterprise-focused proficiency centers in higher institutions of learning in the country.
This pace setting scheme was commissioned on October 14, 2010 at the project site situated at KSU. The plant is widely described as a venture which signify the transformation of Kogi State University into a center of purposeful learning and entrepreneurship.
Still in 2010, in demonstration of its effort to developing local raw materials and attracting foreign investors, the council in partnership with the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organization(WAITRO) based in Malaysia, organized a well-executed two-day international conference on “Modern Trends in Mineral Processing” in Abuja, from June 22-23.
In the same vein, from October 4 to 8, 2010, a training workshop was put together by the council under the backing of the Pan African Competitiveness Forum (PACF) and the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), among others.
Spearheading technology
Over the years, RMRDC has pioneered series of novel technologies and innovations aimed at advancing the course of raw materials value addition and process technology and equipment development in Nigeria. In recent past, former President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the Council’s technology and Innovation Complex at the Obasanjo Space Center, Lugbe. A first in the nation’s efforts in this regard, the complex promotes over 40 projects including:
1. Pilot Plant for the Production of Caustic Soda (NaOH) and Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)
2. Production of Chitosan as an addictive in the production of Automotive Coating
3. Phytoherb 5-Vit. (Medicinal Herbal composition for Boosting Immunity)
4. Phytoherb-Phytobiotic (Medicinal Herbal Composition for treatment of herbal infections.
It is to be recalled that RMRDC took first position in the 2022 edition with one of its project “HYDRATED LIME” basically use for water treatment, among many others.
5. Pilot for th production of Industrial and Pharmaceutical Grade Starch from tacca;
6. Pilot Plant for the Production of Industrial and Pharmaceutical grade Talc;
7. Pilot Plant for the Production of Hydrated Lime
8. Pilot Plant for the Production of Shae Butter
9. Pilot Plant for the Production of Kilishi;
10. Pilot Plant for the Production of Sulphate; etc
Additional material were provided by the Corporate Services Department, RMRDC.
