RMEDC DG urges stakeholders to utilise local raw material to empower commercialisation 

The Director General Raw Materials Research and Development Council Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso (RMRDC), has charged researchers and research institutions to utilize local raw materials to aid their research.

According to the Director General, it would help reduce over dependence on foreign raw materials as well as bridge gaps and facilitate commercialisation of R&D results.

Ike-Muoso stated this at a three-day second annual conference of the Pesticidal Plants Society of Nigeria (PPSN) with the theme: “Pesticidal Plants: A Bridge To Safe And Agricultural And Security Food Sufficient Productivity” organized by PPS Nigeria in Abuja, on Monday.

“I Feel highly honoured to welcome you all to the 2nd Annual Conference of the Pesticidal Plants Society (PPS) of Nigeria. You may wish to know that PPS is an affiliate of the International Societv of Pesticidal Plants (ISPP) saddled with the mandate to provide a forum for supporting research dissemination, creating a pool of expertise and assimilation of scientific knowledge of pesticidal plants and related fields.

“RMRDC is the sole Agency of the Federal Government. It is worthy to inform this audience that the Government of Nigeria is charged with the mandate of promoting optimal production expenditure on raw materials imports. Amongst our notable core objectives include; utilization of local raw materials, in order to reduce over dependence and bridging gaps and providing linkages between research, Government and private sector and facilitating commercialisation of R&D results.”

Declaring the event open, the RMRDC DG lauded the organizer for the initiative in selecting the thematic areas programmed for this event.

Speaking, the National President, PPSN Dr. Simon Okweche, said it’s high time Nigeria moved away from the use of synthetic chemicals which are hazardous to man and his environment. “Nigeria has very rich natural resources that should be preserved for the future yet unborn.

Earlier, the Chairman, Local Organizing Committee PPSN Dr. Oby Okafor, said the mandate of the PPSN cuts across various professions in Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Engineering, among.

“If you are a Mycologist, this professional body is for you; if you are an Entomologists; a Virologist; a Nematologist, a soil/crop/animal scientist, a parasitologist, etc. please come on board.

“As long as you have anything to do with pests and pesticides of living organisms, agroecology, organic agriculture and biopesticides; then this Society is the appropriate body to belong to,” he said.