A recent publication in this newspaper of an exciting encounter of Daily Spokesman’s Board of Editors led by MD/Editor-in-Chief, Mr. Emeka Nwankpa, with the Director General and Chief Executive Officer (DG/CEO) of Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Professor Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, ignited an unusual public interest in the acts, actions and activities of the 34 year-old Council.
The development has sparked off a healthy inquest into what this distinguished erudite scholar and tested administrator has led his patriotic staff to do differently for Nigeria’s industrial growth.
Daily Spokesman’s sacred commitment to pushing informed content for informed commentary and, most importantly, bowing to overwhelming public demand in this particular outing, is the reason for this piece by the RMRDC spokesman, CHUKWUMA NGAHA, a deputy director and point man at the Public Affairs and Protocol Unit (PAPU).
The gallant Ugaha, in a rare rendition of expert insider knowledge of the RMRDC’s inner workings, presents the full story in flowing prose and graphic details only fit for print reminiscent of the style of a master story teller. With magisterial finality, he reduced to rubble, the often obscure and esoteric excessiveness of science, for the benefit of our readers. EXCERPTS:
Few – if any – public servants have had as great an impact on the nation’s economic recovery and industrialization growth effort as Professor Hussaini Doko Ibrahim, the 5th substantive Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC). A man of few words, Professor Ibrahim has his impact on some of the Council’s most impressive successes in form of innovations from programmes of research and development that have contributed to economic growth. His efforts so far have been inspired by the need to build up the local raw materials sourcing capacities of indigenous industries and manufacturing concerns to enable them to play a central role in the growth dynamics of the nation.
Professor Ibrahim came on board in 2014 when there was burning national issue of a soaring import duty bills of Nigeria, necessitating the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to exclude forty one (41) items from accessing foreign exchange. This policy decision created challenges to the industrial sector leading to a call to the Council from manufacturers for the Council’s intervention to save the industry from collapse.
His determination to set the context right and give the Council a fillip in its progress to bridge a yawning gap in raw materials sourcing, propelled the RMRDC DG to quickly activate strategic Plan (2014-2017) of the Council for the attainment of the Council’s goals and mandates. He was also to look took into existing policies (Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP), vision 2020, Industrial, Mineral and metal, Agricultural, etc) of relevant Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies. The Council also collaborated with the organized private sector.
One of the militating factors for Nigeria’s industrialization drive is the inability of R&D outputs to be commercialized. For the erudite Prof, this is easily combatted through target-driven and industry based research and innovation as well as the improvement of indigenous technologies that have been operated in the past to process raw materials. Through the activities of the Council over the years, the Council has made progress to address this concern, by engaging partnerships with relevant stakeholders in the private sectors to develop the framework for the commercialization of R&D results innovations. This as he sees it is good and will facilitate deletion from nation’s import list of raw materials/products for which the country has comparative advantages.
Over three decades, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has been and remains the national institutional framework for promoting local raw materials development and utilization by industries. RMRDC established vide Decree (now Act) 39 of 1987. Its establishment was as a result of the call for inward sourcing of raw materials by industries, and has made tremendous progress in contributing to the development and growth of the Nigerian economy.
Upon assumption of duty in April 2014, as chief helmsman of RMRDC, Professor Ibrahim embarked on aS review and completion of projects he inherited from the previous administration, and successfully completed those that were critical to the raw materials development agenda of his administration, and initiated new ones in furtherance of the Council’s mandates of promoting the development and utilization of industrial raw materials. He was also to pay adequate attention to the council’s institutional framework to ensure that a conducive environment was installed by completing the second wing of the RMRDC corporate complex in Abuja.
The Council’s Strategic Plan (2014-2017) was to guide in the development of a Policy Framework for deletion/import substitution (20-100%) of 20 strategic primary/secondary raw materials with stakeholders. In addressing this target, the RMRDC needed to collaborate with relevant public and private sector stakeholders to develop the Raw Materials Development Master Plan, National Leather and Leather Products Policy
Key successes in this area include, the development of local raw materials through import reduction and promoting efficiency through multi-sectoral approaches and engagement with key stakeholders, position of prominence in the area of optimal sourcing, development and utilization of raw materials by the industries bringing about competitiveness in the industry whilst reducing of importation significantly. It is on record too that there is reported improvement in Nigeria’s global competitiveness index ranking in 2017/2018. The world Economic Forum (WEF) Global competitiveness ranks Nigeria from 125th position out of 137 countries to 115th position out of 140 countries in 2018/2019.
The relevance and importance of raw materials availability and development to industries cannot be overemphasised. Being a key to national development strategies, raw materials supply is considered as key to sustainable production and assurances of increased profit, market share and return on investment.as raw materials hence Professor Ibrahim’s effort to ensure sustainability of raw materials supply to the local industries to guarantee the local manufacture of products and materials on sustainable basis.
This consideration compelled Prof Ibrahim to conducted a holistic review of all of the council’s programmes and projects within the framework of its strategic plan (2014-2017) and with a view to reviving the industries by addressing the issue of high import bill of Raw Materials and manufactured product to encourage local production and consumption and use of made – in- Nigeria goods among other things. He also channelled a lot of activities towards promoting research and development in raw materials sourcing for industrial use.
It is obvious that R&D and innovation have an active role to play in raw materials availability supply and utilization, and so Professor Ibrahim had no option than to deal squarely with this issue leaving left no stone unturned in ensuring that research and innovation occupy a pride of place in the programmes and activities of the Council. He schemed activities around improving local capacities of the industrial sector to source their raw materials locally and attain competitiveness in the process.
Guided by the council’s vision to be an indispensable in promoting the development and utilization of raw materials as industrial inputs Professor Ibrahim would support the federal government to bring to a minimum a minimum via the Council’s mandate, some of the challenges facing local industries in Nigeria especially in the area of local sourcing of their industrial inputs , materials from importation by embarking on a partnership with MAN and the organizer private section to enable industries to source their raw materials locally.
Professor Ibrahim’s leadership qualities is evident in all that he does bearing in mind that the capability to follow through with an idea is a virtue that is bestowed only on very few. Professor Ibrahim has painstakingly followed through on the council’s mandates and adopted a strategy to tackle the raw materials sourcing issues holistically. This pursuit in part yielded a raw materials master plan document by the council to fast track the attainment of industrialization on a sustainable platform and promoting competitiveness in the manufacturing industry thus cushioning the effect of the economic recession of the 2nd quarter of 2016 and the low ranking of Nigeria in the Global Competitiveness index.
The Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth plan (ERGP), of May, 2017, developed to deal with economic recession and render support to the SMEs in the country and stabilize the manufacturing sector, became a clarion call to also challenge the RMRDC DG to rise quickly to the occasion. The RMRDC in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, led by the Honourable Minister of Science Technology and Innovation, Dr Obgonnaya Onu, developed the National strategy for Competitiveness in Raw Materials and Products development in Nigeria. This was quickly approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in May 31st 2017 and mandates given to implement the competitiveness strategy to the full, and the Strategic Task Implementation Unit (SITU) secretariat domiciled in RMRDC.
So far, RMRDC under the able leadership of Prof Ibrahim has continued to add impetus in expediting through programmes and activities development of the industrial sector and promoting self-reliance through the optimal utilization of local raw materials as input to the country’s industrial sector.
Achievements of the Council under Professor Ibrahim is without doubt unparalleled. The council’s progress in the delivery of its set mandates has continued to expand, touching many industrial sectors of the economy. From forays in the livestock and dairy subsectors, to development of pharmaceutical grade starch from wild yam tuber; development of lovastatin from local mushroom specie to address issue of cholesterol; development of caustic soda and precipitated calcium carbonate for the pharmaceutical, paint, cosmetics and other allied industries; development of anti-fungal and anti-diabetic drug; development of phytomedicine for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB); development of automotive brake pad; development of gypsum scrubber for POP and cement manufacturing; development of flash dryer for high quality cassava flour; development of waterborne paints from the blends of natural rubber latex (NR-L) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) as binder and development of ethanol, glucose syrup and cattle feeds from sweet sorghum, and a host of others.
Nigeria, like most other developing countries, is in the midst of economic crisis, especially with outbreak of the corona virus (COVID 19)pandemic. The outbreak of the disease revealed the weak nature of Nigeria’s economy and Professor Ibrahim believes that through R&D and innovation commercialization Nigeria can strengthen its economy through increased manufacturing activities. In his opinion increased manufacturing activities will enable the country to not only recover, but to achieve global and national targets for sustainable development goals (SDGs), AU Agenda 2063 and related and continental development.
The RMRDC leadership has shown great promise and commitment in implementing the federal governments national economic development strategies that fall under the Agenda 2050 premised on attaining regional, continental and global goals and initiatives including promoting manufacturing and local production at all levels and advocate the use of Made-in-Nigeria goods and services as a way of creating job opportunities, achieving self-sufficiency in critical sectors of our economy and curbing unnecessary demands for foreign exchange.
More importantly, significant savings of over one trillion naira have been recorded from import reduction between 2017 and 2018 while there was an increase of this figure in 2019. The nations macro – economic environments health and primary education, goods and market efficiency as well as market size innovations and business sophistication have witness over 50 % improvement proving the efficacy of the strategy deployed by professor Ibrahim to change the equation and foster rapid development in the manufacturing sector of the economy.
At policy and Strategy levels, Professor Ibrahim is optimistic that a Bill for commercialization of R&D, Innovations and Inventions is necessary to encourage long-term commitment to R&D by industry and government.
After all said and done, the build up of local capacities in local raw materials sourcing will continue to play a central role in the growth dynamics of successful economies and Nigeria cannot afford to miss out and Professor Ibrahim will go the whole hog to promote productivity of local industries whilst setting standard for local raw materials.
Prof. Ibrahim started his public service career as a Graduate Assistant with ABU in 1985 and rose to the post of Lecturer I. He joined the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) in 1994 as Assistant Chief Scientific Officer. He became Chief Scientific Officer/Head of Research and Development (R&D) Division in 1996. He was thereafter promoted to the rank of Deputy Director in charge of Research, Evaluation and Monitoring. In 2002, he was promoted to the rank of Director. As a Director, he headed the Zonal Offices Coordination; Investment Promotion and Consultancy; and Industrial Chemicals and Minerals Departments. In November 2013, he was appointed Acting Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of RMRDC and was confirmed substantive Director General of RMRDC in April 2014.
In the course of his public service career, Prof. Ibrahim served on a number of committees. Prominent among these are: Faculty of Science Representative on several committees in ABU; Departmental Committee for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Programmes; External Examiner, Department of Polymer/Textile Technology, Yaba College of Technology from 1995-1996.
Prof. Ibrahim served on several committees in RMRDC and at Inter-ministerial level. Prominent among these are: Junior and Senior Staff Disciplinary Committees; Technical and Editorial Committees of RMRDC Publications; National Consultative Committee on the Industrialization of Scientific Research Results (NCCISRR); National Committee on Deletion Programme for Industrial Raw Materials; National Advisory Ozone Committee (NAOCOM); Committee of Directors of Research Institutes (CODRI) Seminar and Technology Shows; NIGERIA – ASEAN Trade Mission/Fair Delegation to Indonesia and Malaysia; Inter–Ministerial/Agency Committee on Textile Industry in Nigeria; Technical Committee on Raw Materials Exportation of which is Detrimental to the Nigerian Economy; National Committee for Science, Engineering And Technology (SET) Summit; Planning Committee, RMRDC Technology Exposition; Inter–Ministerial Technical Committee on Effective Application of R&D Findings and Results; Committee on Transforming RMRDC into a Centre of Excellence; and Committee on Review of RMRDC Programmes and Projects. As a Director in RMRDC, he chaired the Committees that developed the Council’s Strategic Plans for 2005-2009 and 2014-2017. The adoption of the Strategic Plans, particularly that of 2014-2017 was a decisive step to address Nigeria’s high import bill of manufactured products and to encourage local production of the items. At the expiration of the Strategic Plan (2014-2017), a new Strategic Plan (2018-2021) was developed and approved for implementation by the Council’s Governing Board on June 27, 2018 to guide RMRDC to further achieve the goals and objectives of its establishment.
Prof. Ibrahim has transformed the fortunes of RMRDC with significant achievements, several patents, awards and prizes which include: three times winner of the best exhibition at the Technology and Innovation Expo organized by the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology (FMST) and the most Competitive Parastatal Award. Under his able leadership, Global Techno-Innovations Limited (a subsidiary of RMRDC) established a modern Kilishi Processing Plant based on indigenous technology. The product, MATRA Kilishi, was approved and registered with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) in 2017 and has been commercialized through divestment to a private company, First Refreshment LTD.
A recipient of the prestigious 2019 Order of Merit Award (MPOM) of the National Productivity Center, (NPC) Prof. Ibrahim also belongs to several professional bodies which include:
- Chartered Textile Technologist of Textile Institute, United Kingdom – Member
- American Academy of Project Management – Fellow
- Institute of Management Consultants – Fellow
- Nigerian Institute of Management – Fellow
- Materials Society of Nigeria – Fellow
- Institute of Chartered Trustees of Nigeria – Fellow
- Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria – Fellow
- Institute of Mechanical Engineers of Nigeria – Fellow
- Institute of Metallurgical and Mining of Nigeria – Fellow
- Institute for Service Excellence and Good Governance – Fellow
- Institute of Quality Assurance of Nigeria – Fellow
- Solar Society of Nigerian – Fellow
- American Academy of Project Management – Fellow
- Polymer Institute of Nigeria – Fellow
- Nigerian Metallurgical Society – Fellow
- Textile Researchers Association of Nigeria – Fellow
- Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria – Fellow
- Institute of Corporate Administrator – Fellow
- African Business School – Fellow
- Solar Energy Society of Nigeria – Fellow
- Material Science and Technology Society of Nigeria – Fellow
- Institute of Quality Assurance of Nigeria – Fellow
- Institute for Service Excellence and Good Governance – Fellow
Prof. Ibrahim has over 122 publications which include journals, books and other technical publications and holds 2 patents.
Prof. Ibrahim is happily married with five children.
