The future and economic prosperity of Nigeria and Africa depend on adding value to their abundant raw materials.

Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, the director-general of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja.

Mr Ike-Muonso said that processing raw materials locally was the key to strengthening industrial manufacturing, stabilising the national currency, and boosting foreign exchange reserves.

He also disclosed that the council was set to relaunch its scientific publication, the Journal of Raw Materials (JOMA), to showcase Nigerian research to the international community.

“We want what we are doing to be felt in Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Nairobi, and all corners of the earth. That is the value I see the News Agency of Nigeria bringing to us,” he said.

Mr Ike-Muonso, who described the proposed collaboration with NAN as the council’s most tangible media alliance, expressed confidence that it would also breathe new life into the JOMA.

“This council has been in existence since 1988, and since then, it has churned out lots and loads of research.

“I think, working with you, we need to focus on this. Because that’s actually what people who are interested in us are going to be looking for,” he said.

(NAN)