Chioma Vivian James
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has reinforced its strategic partnership with the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations (WAITRO) and China’s National Innovation Centre par Excellence (NICE) in a renewed push to accelerate technology commercialisation, industrial innovation and sustainable economic growth across Africa.
The strengthened collaboration was reaffirmed during a high-level virtual meeting involving representatives of the three organisations, where participants explored practical pathways for transforming scientific research and technological breakthroughs into commercially viable products and industrial solutions capable of driving economic development.
Discussions centred on expanding cooperation in key growth sectors, including information and communication technology, advanced materials, manufacturing, biomedicine, renewable energy and environmental sustainability. The partners also examined strategies for bridging the long-standing gap between research institutions and industry, with the aim of fostering innovation, enhancing value addition, promoting local content development and improving Africa’s industrial competitiveness in the global marketplace.
A major highlight of the meeting was the ongoing preparation for the Africa Raw Materials Summit, which Nigeria is expected to host in October 2026. The summit is projected to bring together policymakers, researchers, investors, development partners and industry leaders from across the continent and beyond to deliberate on strategies for unlocking Africa’s vast raw materials potential and advancing technology-driven industrialisation.
Participants also reviewed plans for the forthcoming WAITRO Summit in Turkey, which is expected to serve as another important platform for strengthening international partnerships, sharing best practices and promoting collaborative research and innovation initiatives.
The renewed partnership underscores RMRDC’s determination to position Nigeria as a leading hub for industrial innovation and raw materials development. Under the leadership of its Director-General and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, the Council continues to leverage strategic international collaborations to drive technology transfer, enhance research commercialisation and support the nation’s industrialisation agenda.
By fostering stronger linkages between research, innovation and industry, the collaboration among RMRDC, WAITRO and NICE is expected to contribute significantly to sustainable economic growth, job creation, industrial diversification and the development of globally competitive value chains across Africa.
