By Sharon Akuboh and Cynthia Batuta
In a bid to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base and promote inclusive economic growth, the President of Organization of Women in International Trade (OWIT) Nigeria Dr Mrs Blessing Irabor-Oza has initiated a strategic partnership with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), aimed at positioning women at the forefront of value-added production and export.
The engagement took place during a courtesy visit led by the President OWIT Nigeria to the RMRDC headquarters, where the delegation was received by the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso, alongside members of the Council’s management team.
The visit served as more than a ceremonial meeting—it marked the beginning of a shared commitment to transform Nigeria’s raw materials sector from a largely extractive system into a value-driven industrial ecosystem.
Central to the discussions was RMRDC’s proposed policy mandating a minimum of 30 percent value addition to raw materials before export. The President of OWIT Nigeria strongly endorsed the initiative, describing it as a bold and necessary step toward industrialization, economic diversification, and improved global competitiveness.
Speaking during the meeting, the Director-General emphasized the Council’s guiding philosophy: “export for prosperity.” He noted that Nigeria must move beyond exporting raw materials in their basic form and instead focus on building a robust value chain that enhances economic returns.
“Our goal is to shift from supplying raw materials to developing a full value chain—supporting value instead of volume,” he stated.
The President of OWIT Nigeria used the platform to advocate for the intentional inclusion of women in this transformation. While acknowledging that women are already active in raw material production, the organization highlighted the systemic barriers limiting their transition into value-added production and export.
These challenges include limited access to processing equipment, gaps in technical expertise, high compliance costs, and restricted access to finance.
To address these issues, The President of OWIT Nigeria proposed a comprehensive collaboration framework with RMRDC. Key focus areas include:
Supporting women to move from raw material supply into value-added production
Facilitating access to RMRDC’s processing technologies and pilot plants
Establishing women-led industrial clusters with shared infrastructure
Delivering hands-on training in processing, product development, and commercialization
Assisting with regulatory compliance and export standards
Creating structured pathways linking production to international markets
In response, the RMRDC leadership expressed strong alignment with OWIT Nigeria’s vision and confirmed its readiness to co-create impactful programs that will empower women in trade and industry.
As a demonstration of this commitment, President of OWIT Nigeria was invited to join the organizing committee for the upcoming Africa Raw Materials Summit, themed “From Africa’s Soil to the Factory.” The summit is expected to convene key stakeholders across the continent to advance discussions on industrialization and value chain development.
Additionally, the Council announced the launch of a National Raw Materials Database scheduled for April 21, described as the largest of its kind. The database is expected to provide critical data to support investment decisions, policy planning, and sector growth.
OWIT Nigeria members was also invited to tour RMRDC’s research and development facilities, where innovations across various raw materials are being developed to support industrial applications.
Both organizations reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that value addition becomes a practical reality rather than a policy aspiration. At the heart of this partnership is a shared vision: to empower women as key drivers of Nigeria’s industrial and export economy.
With OWIT Nigeria’s extensive network of women entrepreneurs and expertise in trade facilitation, combined with RMRDC’s technical capabilities and policy influence, the collaboration is poised to deliver scalable, high-impact results.
As Nigeria seeks to reposition its economy, this partnership signals a clear direction—one where inclusion, innovation, and value creation define the future of trade.
OWIT Nigeria delegation
Dr Mrs Blessing Irabor Oza – President OWIT Nigeria
Mrs Queen Ouserigha – OWIT Nigeria, Abuja coordinator
Mrs Angonimi David-Imeh – Vice President OWIT Nigeria Marketing/Membership
Weekenders magazine wishes RMRDC and OWIT Nigeria a fruitful collaboration.