RMRDC reveals the plans for the supply of local raw materials for producers – Blueprint Newspapers Limited

The council for the research and development of raw materials (RMRDC) was praised for its dedication in promoting the development of local raw materials and the promotion of industrial partnerships.

The praise was made, on Monday, during a strategic courtesy visit by the delegates from RMRDC to Honeywell Furlo Mills, a subsidiary of Froury Mills Apapa, Lagos State.

The visit, led by the general manager, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, has tried to create awareness and partnership on the next African summit of the raw materials (weapons), as well as involving the main manufacturing companies in the discussions on sourcing and the use of sustainable raw materials.

Speaking during the visit, the general manager of RMRDC, prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, he underlined that the African raw materials market remains largely unused and revealed the mission of the Council to unlock the potential of the continent.

He underlined the importance of exploring intra-African trade and industrial collaboration to reduce dependence on external imports, introducing incoming weapons, which are scheduled at the Abuja Continental Hotel, from 20 to 22 May 2025.

He stressed that the summit will act as a platform for the parties concerned to share knowledge, discuss the trends in the sector and explore innovative solutions to the challenges of raw materials.

By launching more light on the speech, the consultant and the president of the local organizing committee of the summit, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, former deputy chancellor of the University of Nnamdi Azikiwe (Unizik), underlined that a partnership between Honeywell Flour Mills, RMRDC and the public sector will produce the advantages to all stakeholders.

He recognized the high dependence of the company on raw materials imported due to the limited local production capacity.

He developed the legislative bill with the addition of the value of 30 % of the raw materials before export, currently sponsored by RMRDC, stating that his successful passage would contribute to ensuring that the raw materials can be from local level and processed to meet the specifications of the requested sector.

Prof. Odoh has also observed that the summit will assemble the main parties concerned, including industrialists, researchers and political managers within the value chain of raw materials, providing a platform for the exchange of knowledge and political discussions.

In addition, he suggested that the Honeywell flour mills could take advantage of the event to show its different products and innovations by participating as a partner or exhibitor.

While applauding the initiative, the head of the operations of the site, Honeywell Furlo Mills, Mr. Isunoya Bonniface, recognized the critical role of the supply of raw materials in production, stating that it represents about 80 % of the company costs.

He explained that essential food products, such as bread, semolina and noodles, are based heavily on wheat, for which the demand is exceptionally high.

Bonniface revealed that although the Nigeria flour mills currently found a small percentage of wheat at the local level, the company has, through the backward integration, started partnerships with farmers in northern Nigeria to cultivate wheat and provide agricultural support.

However, he underlined that the variety of gradually grown wheat is suitable only for a specific product, while their wide range of products requires different types of wheat variety.

To face this challenge, he revealed that the Nigeria mills are actively exploring ways to cultivate the varieties of wheat suitable for processing in other different products.

In addition, Bonniface said that Furlo Mills has a local inclusion scheme, through which he procures and elaborates cereals such as sorghum and mile from northern Nigeria.

“The company has also set up a mini transformation system located in Kano for further processing of these agrier raw materials necessary for their production which aims to expand the use of alternative flour products beyond traditional consumer models,” he said.

Recognizing the meaning of the top of African raw materials, Bonniface praised RMRDC’s efforts in organizing the summit, in particular at this crucial moment and expressed its commitment to advance the discussions with RMRDC on the development of raw materials.

He assured the RMRDC team that all corporate units within the Nigeria mills would have been encouraged to support the participation of their staff members in the event.