RMRDC targets 1.2m jobs with 30% raw materials value addition

The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has outlined plans to create more than 1.2 million skilled jobs across Nigeria within the next five years by mandating a 30% increase in the value added to raw materials before they are exported. RMRDC's Director-General, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, made this statement at a press conference in Abuja before the upcoming 2nd Africa Raw Materials Summit (ARMS 2026), to be held on October 19 and 20.

The RMRDC's proposed Raw Materials 30% Mandatory Value Addition Bill, currently awaiting presidential approval, aims to transition Nigeria from exporting unprocessed commodities to processing and manufacturing within the country. This legislation is seen as a crucial element of this year's ARMS 2026, which will convene over 1,800 delegates from all 54 African nations and global industrial partners.

The summit will tackle logistical and infrastructural barriers, the need for value addition, circular economy principles, regional trade within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and technology commercialisation and capital access as key areas for improvement. RMRDC has already developed the Nigeria Integrated Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products (NISSRAMP), a digital platform offering data on raw material availability, production outputs, and industrial absorption rates.

The council has also secured ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certification and is a certified Data Controller/Processor by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission. A partnership with the National Innovation Centre (NICE) in Shanghai, China, has been established to aid in the commercialization of local research and development efforts.

The 2026 summit will feature policy discussions, interactive panels, an exhibition on raw materials and technology, industrial site visits, and the African Raw Materials Industry Awards.