Africa Will No Longer Export Its Future in Raw Form”: Our liberation lies in value addition –Says Akpabio, RMRDC DG

By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.

The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) hosted the inaugural Africa Raw Materials Summit 2025 at the Abuja Continental Hotel, Abuja, Nigeria.

With a strategic mandate to harness local resources for manufacturing competitiveness, the RMRDC—Nigeria’s apex institution for the development and utilization of industrial raw materials under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology—is championing national industrialization through value addition, reduced dependency, and increased investment in Nigeria’s raw materials base.

While welcoming African delegates to the three-day Africa Raw Materials Summit, scheduled for May 20–22, 2025, RMRDC Director-General, Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso, declared: “Africa’s liberation lies in value addition.” He seized the opportunity to once again thank Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his insightful and futuristic policies, stating:

“May I seize this opportunity to appreciate His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his commitment to revitalizing the raw materials subsector of the Nigerian economy through laudable initiatives—a feat that has birthed the convergence of this timely summit.

“Indeed, his astute dedication to Nigeria’s economic prosperity is unmatched.

“Here in Nigeria, under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the ‘Nigeria First Policy’ is igniting an industrial renaissance—a Renewed Hope built on local transformation, inclusive prosperity, and strategic value addition,” the DG remarked.

He continued: “Two years ago, I emphatically stated that a situation in which raw minerals are extracted from our countries, exported, refined, and sold back to us as finished products merely consolidates our misery and deepens underdevelopment. That cycle must end.”

“We have embraced this call at RMRDC with zeal and measurable resolve. Since the inception of President Tinubu’s administration, his policy support has clarified our benchmark on value addition.”

He added: “The proposed bill before the National Assembly mandates that no less than 30% value must be added to raw materials before they are exported. This minimum is not a goal—it is a standard, aligned with ECOWAS thresholds and similar schemes across sub-regional blocs, including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). It is our blueprint for a truly industrialized, interconnected, and prosperous Africa.”

“Your Excellencies and distinguished guests, value addition is our liberation. It is the bridge between resource abundance and people-centered wealth. It is the lever through which we will:

Build globally competitive African brands rooted in our soil and sweat;
Deepen regional value chains and ignite intra-African trade in intermediate and finished goods;
Most importantly, retain Africa’s wealth for Africans, now and for generations to come.”

He cited Rwandan President Paul Kagame, saying: “President Kagame could not have been more accurate when he noted that Africa’s prosperity will be built on value addition, innovation, and regional integration.”

“At RMRDC, we’re not waiting for miracles—we’re building models. Our Data-Driven Raw Materials Information System (DARMIS), the first of its kind in Nigeria, is a digital transformation engine. It maps our raw material resources, traces value chains, and provides real-time intelligence to investors, producers, and policymakers.”

“From talc in Niger State to phosphate in Sokoto, coal in Enugu to limestone in Cross River, and lithium in Nasarawa to granite in Ekiti—we know what we have and, more importantly, what to do with it. Insight must precede investment; data must precede deployment.”

“To all Africans, we say: this is a replicable revolution. Adopt it. Adapt it. Advance it. Let us build a data-smart, production-driven, and proudly self-reliant continent.”

“Therefore, this summit is a necessity. The theme, ‘Shaping the Future of Africa’s Resource Landscape,’ is not just a slogan—it is a clarion call to shape our destiny. From the industrial clusters of Hawassa to Tangier, Tema, Aba, and Kampala, Africa is stirring. Let this summit be the forge where new value chains are formed, catalytic partnerships birthed, and trillion-dollar industries ignited by Africans, for Africa,” Prof. Ike-Muonso said.

The DG once again expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s industrial rebirth.

He also extended appreciation to Senate President Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio for his unmatched support of Africa’s raw materials and industrial transformation cause. Special thanks were also given to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation of Nigeria and Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, whose leadership he described as pivotal to the success of the summit.

The DG recognized Senator John Owan Enoh, Honourable Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, as a mentor and supporter of this continental movement.

“To our esteemed guests and partners from across Africa—from Ghana to South Africa, Morocco to Ethiopia, and beyond—your presence affirms our shared determination.

“To our international guests: Africa is open for business. We seek visionary investors to advance process technologies, support indigenous innovation, and build sustainable value chains. Africa offers vast markets, exceptional talent, bold ideas, and a future rooted in dignity, innovation, and shared prosperity. Let us unlock the full potential of our resources and drive Africa’s industrial revolution forward.

“The march toward Africa’s industrial emancipation begins here. Welcome to the dawn of Africa’s industrial awakening.

“On behalf of the RMRDC, the Local Organising Committee (LOC), and all stakeholders, I welcome you to three days of vision, velocity, and value. Welcome to Abuja. Welcome to the Africa Raw Materials Summit 2025,” he concluded.

In the same vein, Senate President Godswill Akpabio remarked: “It is with deep humility, honour, and a profound sense of responsibility that I welcome you all—distinguished ministers, scholars, industry leaders, and global partners—to this historic gathering in Abuja for the inaugural Africa Raw Materials Summit.”

“I stand here not only as President of the Nigerian Senate, but as an advocate for legislation that will ignite a new industrial era for our continent.

“The summit theme, ‘Shaping the Future of Africa’s Resource Landscape,’ is timely and urgent. Despite our abundant mineral, agricultural, and energy resources, Africa remains underdeveloped. We extract, others manufacture. We export raw, but import with added value. This must change.”

“In the Nigerian Senate, we are taking proactive steps to address this imbalance. I reaffirm our commitment to passing the 30% Minimum Value-Addition Bill. This landmark legislation mandates that raw materials of Nigerian origin undergo at least 30% local processing before export—through refining, packaging, or industrial transformation.”

“This law is not to hinder trade, but to boost local enterprise, create jobs, attract capital, and build resilient value chains,” he affirmed.

Senator Akpabio, represented by Senate Committee Chairman on Science and Technology, Hon. Iya Aminu Abbas, assured the summit that the National Assembly would pass the bill into law soon.

Earlier, Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Geoffrey Uche Nnaji, welcomed all delegates to the summit, co-organized by his ministry and the RMRDC.

He stated: “Africa stands at a defining moment. We have long exported raw potential and imported dependency. This summit is a call to industrialize, add value, and build prosperity on our soil.”

“Value addition is not optional—it is essential. It fuels youth empowerment, SME growth, and economic sovereignty.”

“We proudly support Nigeria’s 30% Minimum Value-Addition Policy. Through this summit, we hope to inspire continental alignment. We are deploying digital tools, traceability systems, and research-to-industry bridges to strengthen intra-African trade under AfCFTA.”

“Let this summit send a clear message: Africa will no longer export its future in raw form. Our minerals will power industries, our crops will feed the world, and our youth will lead the charge in innovation,” he concluded.