By Uloma Peace Okorie
Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso is the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC.
Since taking office in May 2024 as the 6th DG, he’s been credited with driving a big shift toward making Nigeria’s raw materials work for local industry.
Vision: From commodity exports to value addition
He’s leading the push to move Nigeria away from exporting raw commodities and instead process them locally first.He is championing the proposed 30% Value Addition Bill which would require at least 30% local processing before any raw material is exported.
The goal:
Is to boost GDP, create jobs, stabilize forex, and reposition Nigeria as a manufacturing hub. He estimates the bill could save the FG ₦1.037 trillion annually.
Research with market impact
He redefined RMRDC’s research mandate: “We were not set up to do blue sky research. We want research that will be accepted by the market”. Under him, RMRDC is targeting 200 patents in 24 months and has already secured about 45 patents.
He is linking universities to industry by channeling MSc and PhD research into commercial products.
Building infrastructure and data for investors
Launched work on Nigeria’s first comprehensive raw materials database with technical, economic, and investment information on solids, agricultural and mineral resources. It will include exploitation levels, risks, and tax policies per location. Expanding ISO-certified laboratory services at RMRDC’s Pilot Complex to support testing certification, and value addition for gold and other minerals. This is part of efforts to enable government-certified, traceable gold exports.
Policy alignment and incentives
Prof Nnanyelugo aligned RMRDC with the Federal Government’s “Nigeria First” and Renewed Hope Agenda, focusing on local content, import substitution, and industrialization. He Secured Ministerial approval for tax incentives to reward companies that invest in R&D and use Nigerian sourced raw materials. The idea is to reduce costs for industries that dare to innovate, build, and manufacture with locally sourced solutions .Advocacy for Nigeria’s economic prosperity Prof publicly argues that “Nigeria’s prosperity is tied to raw materials utilisation” and that Africa’s underdevelopment is linked to exporting raw materials without processing.
At the NME-NIRAM Expo 2025 he called for a “bold and coordinated national push” using technology and local value-addition to make Nigeria an industrial powerhouse. He also noted that Nigeria has over 120 commercially viable solid minerals plus vast agriculture. Leadership style has describedProf nnanyelugo ike- muonso a “Visionary Leader Paving the Way for Nigeria’s Industrial Renaissance” noting that his tenure has brought “a refreshing wave of innovation and strategic vision”
He has also repositioned RMRDC as a hub for policy dialogue, innovation, and investment matchmaking.