By: Goodluck E. Adubazi, Abuja.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, has said Nigeria is ready to share its raw materials development model with other African countries to accelerate industrialisation, create jobs and promote economic growth.
Udeh stated this on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during a ministerial media parley organised by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in Abuja, ahead of the Africa Raw Materials Summit 2026 scheduled for October 19–20.
He said the summit would bring together African ministers, researchers, investors, development partners and industry leaders to discuss strategies for transforming the continent’s raw materials into finished and semi-finished products.
According to the minister, the gathering would provide a platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing and the review of progress made since the maiden edition, while identifying gaps and developing practical solutions to challenges affecting Africa’s raw materials sector.
Udeh said Nigeria would use the summit to showcase its achievements in raw materials development, research commercialisation and industrialisation, allowing other African countries to learn from its experiences.
A major focus, he said, was the proposed amendment to the law establishing the RMRDC, which seeks to introduce a minimum 30 per cent value addition to raw materials before export.
He disclosed that the proposed amendment had passed through the National Assembly and was undergoing further executive-level review to ensure alignment with the government’s industrialisation objectives before the next steps towards presidential assent.
The minister explained that the initiative was designed to encourage local processing, attract investments, strengthen domestic manufacturing and retain more economic value within Nigeria.
He stressed that value addition must be supported by research, technological capacity and collaboration between government agencies, research institutions and private-sector operators.
Udeh also identified the proposed National Research and Innovation Development Fund as a critical initiative for strengthening research and innovation, adding that commercialising research outcomes would help translate scientific discoveries into marketable products, industries and employment opportunities.
He maintained that Nigeria must move beyond importing foreign technologies to developing local capacity to manufacture and maintain them.
The minister also highlighted the Youth and Students in Innovation initiative, which he said was aimed at equipping young Nigerians with the skills to develop and produce technologies.
On the expected outcomes of the summit, Udeh called for a structured post-summit implementation mechanism to track commitments, review progress periodically and ensure that recommendations translated into measurable results.
He said African countries could learn from one another’s experiences and adapt successful policies to strengthen their respective raw materials value chains.
Udeh further emphasised that innovation, science and technology were essential to Nigeria’s ambition of building a knowledge-based economy and achieving its $1 trillion gross domestic product target.
Earlier, the Director-General of the RMRDC, Prof. Nnayelugo M. Ike-Muonso, welcomed members of the media and introduced the minister, describing the summit as an opportunity for African countries to strengthen cooperation in raw materials development.
The two-day summit is expected to focus on value addition, research commercialisation, investment and strategies for transforming Africa’s raw materials into higher-value products.
