The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and Africhips R&D on Thursday in Abuja signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to build domestic capacity in advanced technology.

The Director-General of RMRDC, Nnayelugo Ike-Muonso, while signing on behalf of RMRDC, said the partnership aligned with its mandate to harness local resources for industrial development.

He said the MoU served as a turning point for the sector, noting that Africhips R&D was the first company to declare the intent to establish a semiconductor factory in Nigeria.

He stated, “By linking our research on raw materials to Africhip’s vision, we are creating a pathway for Nigeria to move beyond resource export and into high-value technology production.

“For decades, we have recognised that our country holds many of the mineral resources and industrial inputs required for advanced technology production.”

The RMRDC boss said that semiconductors were the foundation of modern technology because they power devices ranging from smartphones, computers, and medical equipment to industrial systems.

“Many goods and services, like SIM cards, banking cards, solar inverters, and electronics produced or assembled in Nigeria, use semiconductors inside them,” he said.

In spite of its global importance, Africa’s participation in the semiconductor value chain has been limited.

“We must stop seeing ourselves only as suppliers of raw materials and start building the capacity to process, design, and manufacture the technologies that the world needs,” he said.

The Regional Manager, Sub-Saharan Africa, Africhips R&D, Huleji Lawrence, described the agreement as a bold step toward building sovereign semiconductor capacity in Nigeria.

He said the partnership would strengthen Africa’s participation in advanced technology and position Africa to contribute meaningfully to the global semiconductor value chain.

“At Africhips R&D, our mission is clear, it is to develop the research, infrastructure, talent, and industrial partnerships required to support semiconductor innovation from Africa.

“The partnership represents the realisation of a long-held vision to anchor semiconductor research and production within the African continent. This partnership gives us access to the raw materials we need to begin serious microfabrication research.

“This milestone reinforces our commitment to building a serious, focused, and globally relevant semiconductor ecosystem rooted in Nigeria’s natural resources, scientific capacity, and engineering potential,” he said.

The Director, Technology Development Department, RMRDC, Mohammed Njidda, said that the council had spent years assessing Nigeria’s raw material base and identifying sectors where local processing could yield the highest returns.

“However, raw materials alone are not enough; you need research, engineering expertise, and the right infrastructure to transform these materials into usable components.

“That is why this collaboration is so important, it combines our resources and institutional support with Africhip’s technical vision and capacity,’’ he said.

Mr Njidda said that semiconductors emerged as a priority area due to their wide-ranging applications and growing global demand. 

(NAN)