The Nigerian government is accelerating its efforts to leverage technology in converting the nation’s abundant raw materials into valuable products, and Cross River State has emerged among the key drivers.
This was highlighted at the National Consultative Committee on Competitiveness (NCCC) conference held in Abuja attended by Dr. Justin Beshel, Cross River State Commissioner for Science and Technology.
The conference brought together key stakeholders from various sectors to discuss strategies for implementing the national strategy for competitiveness in raw materials and product development.
Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, emphasises the Federal Government’s commitment to “boosting the country’s global competitiveness in raw materials and product development.” He also underscores the importance of “developing Nigeria’s abundant raw materials into high-quality products.”
As a co-chair of the research and development subcommittee, Dr. Beshel says that “although Nigeria has an abundance of raw materials, including solids, metals, energy minerals, and agro-raw materials, having these resources by itself does not ensure economic success.”
According to him, “converting raw materials into high-quality products is both a tactical and necessary requirement for national development and global competitiveness.”
At the event, Cross River State was showcased as a leading example in the pursuit of value addition to raw materials through partnerships in bee farming technology, cassava processing technology, and toxicological research.
Some of these initiatives include such as the Obudu Bee Farm project which has beekeepers producing bee hives and also transporting bees to different locations in Nigeria.
The NCCC aims to coordinate efforts across different levels of government to ensure the successful execution of the national strategy. This includes establishing state and zonal offices to oversee implementation.
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