By Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, has stated that innovation and technology are critical for Nigeria’s industrial development.
Nnaji made this known at the ongoing 2025 edition of the Nigeria Manufacturing & Equipment/Nigerian Raw Materials (NME/NIRAM) Expo, in Lagos.
He commended the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) for organising such a timely event.
According to the minister, the Expo provides a strategic platform for inspiring new innovative ideas that are capable of moving the Nigerian manufacturing ecosystem forward.
He emphasised that one of the major planks of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is strengthening the capacity and capabilities of Nigeria’s manufacturing industry to innovate and produce products that would significantly reduce the country’s over-dependence on importation.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director General of RMRDC, Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, described the Expo as more than a periodic gathering, but as a strategic platform where Nigeria’s industrial future is debated, designed, and driven.
Professor Ike-Muonso highlighted that the Expo serves as a hub for technical exchange, policy dialogue, investment matchmaking, and strategic industrial networking, critical components in the drive to reduce import dependency and grow domestic capacity.
Citing concerning figures, he noted that over 70% of Nigeria’s manufacturing inputs are imported, with raw material imports surging to ₦4.53 trillion in just the first nine months of 2024. Despite this, the manufacturing sector contributed only 9.62% to GDP in Q1 2025, a drop from the 9.8% recorded the previous year.
“These numbers expose a structural weakness,” the DG stated. “We export raw materials in crude form, import them back refined, and in the process, export jobs and value.”
He emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria to embrace the Fourth Industrial Revolution, integrating smart technologies, adopting resource-efficient processes, and institutionalising sustainability as a national industrial ethos.
Professor Ike-Muonso pointed to RMRDC’s Research and Demonstration Plant Complex (RDPC) in Abuja as a concrete step towards this vision. The RDPC houses over 50 pilot plants, all locally designed and fabricated, transforming indigenous raw materials like cassava, talc, and shea into high-value industrial products.
Professor Ike-Muonso reiterated the legislative milestone RMRDC has achieved with the bill, which mandates at least 30% processing or value-addition within Nigeria’s raw materials. From cassava to platinum ore, this marks a turning point from exporting raw jobs to nurturing them in our soil.
“This positive development not only makes the challenge of cutting-edge technology for raw material processing both imperative and urgent but holds the ace for providing global investors with the legislative confidence they require to invest in processing technologies and domestic processing of raw materials,” the DG stated.
Delivering his welcome remarks, the President of MAN, Otunba Francis Meshioye, reinforced the Expo’s importance to Nigeria’s industrial policy. He extended warm acknowledgements to dignities and partners, including the Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, for paving the way for innovation and technology shift in recent times.
Meshioye underscored the need to embrace cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance productivity and efficiency in manufacturing processes.
“We are focused on energy-efficient production, smart factory protocols, closed-loop systems, and advanced recycling,” he said. “These approaches not only reduce waste but add long-term value for stakeholders.”
He added that the 2025 Expo was re-engineered to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Nigeria First” policy, a call to deepen local content, promote homegrown solutions, and support domestic industry.
In his remarks, the Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Segun Ajayi-Kadir, expressed enthusiasm that the three days of exposition and conversation around value chain optimisation shall deliver on economic self-reliance and enhanced industrialisation.
He urged participants to get involved at the Expo and showcase innovative products and solutions developed by local manufacturers, as well as connect with potential customers, partners, and investors. He further applauded their presence, which he said demonstrates a commitment to promoting local content and supporting Nigerian industries.
Mr Ajayi-Kadir stated, “This EXPO also affords us an opportunity to examine the state of the manufacturing sector and to co-create solutions to ameliorate identified challenges.”
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