Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has affirmed his administration’s commitment to partnering with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) to actualize a shared vision of economic transformation in the State.
Governor Otti made this known on Friday while receiving a delegation from the RMRDC, led by its Director-General and CEO, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, at Nvosi Isialangwa South LGA.
The Governor underscored the critical role of the Council in national development, particularly in advancing Manufacturing, Small and Medium-Scale Industries, and other key sectors.
He stressed the need for Nigeria to shift from mere extraction to value addition in both Agricultural and Mineral resources to foster sustainable growth.
“For our country to develop, we must begin to add value to every product, whether agricultural or mineral resources, that originates from here“, Governor Otti stated.
He expressed optimism that Nigeria could build a thriving economy driven by Agriculture, just as the late Premier of the Eastern Region, Dr Micheal Okpara achieved without reliance on oil.
Governor Otti who highlighted the Abia’s rich endowment in Agricultural and Mineral deposits, pledged his administration’s full support for the RMRDC.
He assured the delegation that his government would allocate suitable land to facilitate the Council’s operations in Abia State.
Earlier in his address, the DG and CEO Raw Materials Research and Development Council Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso emphasized that the visit was in furtherance of the Council’s statutory mandate to drive industrialization through sustainable development and utilization of Nigeria’s vast raw material resources.
Prof Ike-Muonso noted that that Abia with its rich Agricultural and Industrial, base stands as a strategic partner towards unlocking Nigeria’s natural endowments for economic diversification, value addition and job creation.
The RMRDC Director General who commended Governor Otti for his visionary, reformatory and transformative leadership, said that the Governor’s remarkable strides stand as irrefutable evidence of a leader imbued with competence, integrity and unyielding passion for the development of the state.
He noted that the economic policies, infrastructural renewal initiatives and reforms of the Governor has brought relief and renewed hope to the industrious people of the State.
Prof Ike-Muonso used the forum to invite the Governor to participate in the Maiden Edition of the Africa Raw Materials Summit taking scheduled to hold at the Abuja Continental Hotel from 20th May to 22nd May 2025
He revealed that the Summit which has so far confirmed participants from across 72 Countries, aims at deepening Africa’s raw material markets, sharing knowledge on processing technologies and strengthening value chains.
