Research shows that most raw materials and resource-based manufacturing industries in Nigeria are said to fall within micro, small and medium scale category which made RMRDC to focus attention on the challenges of such MSMEs. BINTA SHAMA reports.
In pursuance of the Raw Material Research & Development Council (RMRDC) mandate, to promote the development and utilisation of Nigeria’s abundant natural resources as input for a sustainable growth and development of resource-based manufacturing sector, the Raw Material Research & Development Council (RMRDC) in collaboration with the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) will be hosting a three-day international exhibition tagged the 6th Nigerian Raw Materials (NIRAM) Expo and the 5th Nigerian Manufacturing & Equipment (NME) Expo with the theme: ‘The Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Nigerian Manufacturing Sector’, scheduled for March 10th to 12th, 2020 in Lagos.
NIRAM & NME conference to improve STI
The 5th edition of the Nigerian Manufacturing & Equipment Expo has been co-located with Nigerian Raw Materials EXPO for the past four years, and is said to have presented key opportunities for international manufacturers and business men to connect with Nigerian business people to form unique relationships which are necessary for industrial machine retooling, sourcing of local raw materials and growth of business that will help drive manufacturing as a key element of growth within the Nigerian economy.
The event is said to enhance Science, Technology and Innovation (STI).
While briefing journalists during a press conference recently in Abuja, the Director General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) Prof. Hussaini Doko Ibrahim said the three day event would be another opportunity to create a platform where stakeholders in the raw material value chain could come together to synergize, showcase and trade in available resources and raw materials with the user’s of same, which is mainly the manufacturing sector. This way we are able to bridge the information gaps and as well as encourage increased sourcing /procurement of locally available raw materials by manufacturing industries.
“Today after organising several editions of NIRAM Expo, we have witnessed astronomical increase in the procurement of primary and secondary raw materials. Such increases in local raw materials includes sourcing for primary raw materials such as tubers, grains, gypsum, Kaolin, tropical fruits etc. as well as secondary raw materials such as starch, fruit juice concentrates, flavors, fillers, colorants, resins, etc. by local industries to meet their production activities. MAN here present will confirm this positive development in our country,” he added.
The DG further said that the Expo would be the biggest and the best showcasing the available raw materials within respective States in the country, going by their increasing interests of participation at the event. “As well as the enthusiasm by the organised private sector producing secondary raw material. This is definitely in line with the federal government’s diversification agenda, which encourages the country to look inward to areas the country has enormous comparative and competitive advantages, which are embedded in agricultural land mineral resources to help restructure our economy to s more prosperous resource based manufacturing. Thus enhancing the scope from just raw materials issue to the entire manufacturing value chain through Innovation.
Opportunity to tap into the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Speaking, the president of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) Engr. Mansur Ahmed in his remarks said, the Expo is a moment to tap into the opportunities of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“The theme is instructive at a time like this as it is pertinent for stakeholders to critically discuss how to tap into the opportunities the Fourth Industrial Revolution presents at the same time remaining competitive in a fast-developing industrial space.
“The current and developing environment in which disruptive technologies and trends such as Block chain, Internet of things, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Driverless car and Augmented Reality among others, would dictate the pace of development among nations. Adding that, there was need to start using technology to produce the nation’s food, products, and other indigenous Innovations becoming imperative so that the country wouldn’t depend on other developed countries.
Government’s commitment to industrialisation
He further said the expo was initiated as a quick response to the government’s commitment to industrialization and Nigeria’s need to diversify the economy has so far been fulfilling the core of its mandate as attested by participants who constantly make the international manufacturing and equipment gathering a priority event.
According to him that the EXPO is widely considered as the leading and the most comprehensive event which encompasses every aspect of the manufacturing value chain, this year’s NME/NIRAM EXPO has been designed to address pertinent concerns for the eventual take off of African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA), come this year in July.
Need to diversify the economy
He said “the expo was initiated as a response to the government’s commitment to industrialization and Nigeria’s need to diversify the economy has so far been fulfilling the core of its mandate as attested by participants who constantly make the international manufacturing and equipment gathering a priority event.
The representative of Nigeria Commodity Exchange Abuja. Mr Chris Echikwu who pledged his organisation’s unalloyed support, says the Nigeria Commodity Exchange is a very vital organisation established by the Federal Government to facilitate trades in commodities Agricultural or solid minerals. He stated the importance of being part of the programme is their desire to bring efficiency to manufacturers in Nigeria, in how they source for their raw materials. “This year our attendance will be a watershed occasion . We have established warehouses in the six Geo-political zones in Nigeria. We will be in Lagos to expose this news to Nigeria manufacturers as well as exporters who want to go into various segments of value chain of commodity trading in Nigeria.
Series of master classes and workshops focused on key sectors of manufacturing and raw material sourcing will compliment plenary sessions that will be chaired by distinguished personalities from the industries, academia and around the globe.
The conference is said to top level executives from international and Nigerian public and private sectors a platform for detailed exploration of investment opportunities and government policies with respect to manufacturing in a world where technological advancements are beginning to dictate the future of economies around the world.
