BY: EMMANUEL CHUKWUMA, ENUGU.
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) Imo State Coordinating Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, hosted an investment forum for value addition opportunities in the rubber sector.
The title, “Rebooting Rubber: Transforming Imo’s Agro-Industrial Future “, aimed to revitalize Imo State’s underutilized rubber resources and improve its rubber value chain.
The forum’s core objectives encompass promoting domestic processing and value addition of raw rubber materials, advancing sustainability and environmental management practices, fostering innovation and technological progress, and catalyzing economic growth through job creation.
The event attracted an array of stakeholders, including dignitaries from the Imo State Government, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), NAFDAC, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Polymer and Textile Engineering FUTO, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Traditional Rulers, Technology Incubation Centre (TIC), and private entities such as VENDORA Farms Limited, FEXDORA Cooperative Union, among others.
Engr. Emenike Onu, Deputy Vice President of the Nigerian Association of Small-Scale Industrialists (NASSI), and the chairman of the occasion, articulated the substantial potential of Imo State’s rubber resources for conversion into high-value industrial products.
He underscored the necessity of enacting the RMRDC-sponsored 30% value addition bill to curtail the export of unprocessed raw rubber.
He, also called for a comprehensive mapping of the state’s critical minerals and agricultural resources for comprehensive data analysis.
Onu further emphasized the need for collaboration between academia, industry,, and Raw Materials Research and Development Council in fostering innovation and establishing a robust rubber value chain.
The Director-General/CEO of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muosuo, represented by Dr. Mrs. Edith Obi, welcomed the enormous participants and accentuated the forum’s timely significance in revitalizing the rubber industry, acknowledging its historical importance in Imo State and Nigerian economy as a principal raw material for various industries, including automotive, healthcare, footwear, and aviation.
Despite this, she lamented several impediments to growth, including aging plantations, outdated processing techniques, limited financing access, and policy inconsistencies that have stifled development. Dr Obi urged Imo State to reclaim its historical status as a major player in the rubber sector.
She emphasized RMRDC’s commitment to fostering industrial growth through strategic initiatives, such as promoting modern processing technologies, facilitating partnerships among stakeholders, and providing technical assistance to farmers and processors.
She highlighted the importance of adding value to local raw materials, mentioning that the proposed 30% value addition bill sponsored by the Council will soon be implemented. This bill is expected to create job opportunities, promote the development of rubber value chain products, and support sustainable economic growth.
Additionally, participants were invited to the First Africa Raw Materials Summit, which is scheduled for May 20-22, 2025.
The Permanent Secretary, representing the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, highlighted the historical context of rubber production in Imo State, which dates back to 1961. While recognizing the economic and environmental benefits of rubber plantations, he addressed significant challenges such as the impacts of climate change, price volatility, and labor shortages.
He called for collective efforts to support smallholder farmers, adopt sustainable practices, and reinforce policies to establish a fair and resilient rubber industry.
Mr. Tony Ajuruchi, the NEPC State Coordinator, affirmed his Council’s commitment to diversifying Imo State’s economy by promoting non-oil exports, particularly in the rubber sector.
He expressed the NEPC’s eagerness to collaborate with stakeholders to develop a comprehensive rubber value chain to increase employment opportunities and enhance the state’s GDP.
Ajuruchi commended the RMRDC and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security for organizing the forum and encouraged participants to actively engage in revitalizing Imo State’s rubber sector to realize its full potential. Other stakeholders also shared their goodwill messages at the event.
This Investment Forum marks a key step in transforming Imo State’s rubber industry, highlighting its role in economic diversification.
The emphasis on value addition and sustainable practices underscores a commitment to long-term economic growth. Following the goodwill messages, the forum transitioned into technical sessions featuring presentations and discussions centered on key aspects of the rubber value chain.
The Forum featured the following sub-themes:
• Rehabilitation and Replanting: Unlocking the Potential of Imo’s Rubber Plantations
• Value Chain Development: From Plantation to Market
• Investment and Financing Strategies for a Sustainable Rubber Industry .
The technical session concluded with a roundtable discussion that addressed the questions raised during the presentations of technical papers.
This discussion was led by the Chairman of the Forum, Elder (Engr) Emenike Onu. During the roundtable, various stakeholders shared their insights on the future development of the natural rubber value chain in Imo State, which led to several strategic recommendations for moving forward.
Mr. David Enemuo, the State Coordinator of the RMRDC Imo State Coordinating Office, expressed his gratitude to God for the success of the forum. He thanked all the participants and encouraged stakeholders to take the necessary steps to achieve the objectives of the Investment Forum. The event concluded with certificates being awarded to all participants.
