The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) is set to establish Raw Materials Testing and Analysis Centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to reduce dependence on foreign laboratories for product certification.
Director-General of RMRDC, Prof Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, disclosed this in Abuja during the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the African University of Science and Technology (AUST).
He said the project would begin with a flagship testing centre at AUST, designed to provide world-class facilities for analysing agricultural and mineral raw materials locally.
According to Ike-Muonso, the initiative will strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base, support postgraduate research, and promote innovation and export competitiveness.
He added that the Abuja facility would serve as a pilot for six regional centres, ensuring nationwide access to testing and certification services.
AUST President, Prof. Peter Onwualu, described the collaboration as a strategic model for industrial self-reliance within the “triple helix” framework, which unites government, academia, and industry to drive innovation and sustainable development.
