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COVID-19: Oyo State Recieves Relief Materials From Ogun-Oshun RBDA

Published

4 years ago

April 21, 2020

Joel Ajayi

The Government of Oyo State has received relief materials worth thousands of naira on COVID 19, from the Ogun – Oshun River Basin Development Authority.

The relief materials which include: 200 crates of Eggs, 200 cartoons of the Authority’s 75cl Table water and 60 bags of 5kg refined Garri, produced by the Authority, was received on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde by Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Jacob Ojekunle Ojemuyiwa in his office at Ibadan on Monday, 20th April, 2020.

The MD/CEO of the Authority, Olufemi Odumosu while performing the presentation, said the Authority as a socially responsible public organization and a Federal Agency involved in the development of Water Resources and Agricultural production, deemed it necessary to respond to the call of President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR and Governor Seyi Makinde, FNSE to support both the Federal and State Government’s efforts at curbing the menace.

The Managing Director commended the Hon. Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, FNSE, FAENg, for creating enabling environment for the RBDAs to operate. He said the Minister’s leadership qualities has been an illuminating light for the Authority to follow.

Odumosu also promised that the Authority will make emergency provision for water supply by drilling of boreholes at vulnerable communities and designated isolation centres that the State Government may wish to provide.

He commended the Governor and his team’s efforts at combating the scourge, while not forgetting the tireless efforts of the Medical personnel and other Health workers in the country.

He also thanked the Almighty God on behalf of the Governor for his divine healing from the terrible virus, praying that God’s protection will continue to abide on him always.

Odumosu also seized the occasion to notify the Governor on the issue of land encroachment at some of the Authority’s Projects in the State, prominent among them are the Ibadan Area office and the Middle Ogun Irrigation Project, Iseyin. Both Projects with infrastructural investments in water resources and Agricultural facilities by the Federal Government, worth over billions of naira.
He said the issue had earlier been brought up to the attention of the previous Administration without it being addressed.

He however said with the present Administration’s commitment to Agriculture, Food production and Employment generation that the Projects promote, he had no doubt that the Governor will give necessary support to overcome the setbacks.

In his response, the Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture thank the Authority on behalf of Governor Makinde and people of Oyo State for the kind gesture.
He assured that the palliative materials will get to the appropriate people in the State.
While also appreciating the Authority’s pledge to drill boreholes in identified vulnerable communities, he promised to deliver the MD’s message on the encroachment of the Authority’s Projects to the Governor.

Earlier, the Senior Assistant to the Governor on Agric Business, Mr Debo Akande said the State is putting up proper measures on the distribution of relief materials so far received.
He assured that the State will do its best to ensure that the vulnerable in the State are the ones that will receive the items.

On the MD’s entourage are Executive Directors, Directors in the Authority and Head of Public Relations and Protocol.

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RMRDC: Making Giant Strides Under Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso

Published

14 hours ago

September 19, 2024

The Gleamer

By Joel Ajayi

As we embark on a journey, we always pray for an able, experienced, and courageous driver, pilot, or sailor depending on the means of transportation.

This is because the captain will have enough experience and boldness to navigate out of turbulence and to bring all the passengers and crew to the intended destination.

Interestingly, these fine qualities of ability, experience, boldness, and many more, abound in the man, Prof. Nnanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso, who we all are pleased was appointed the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC, the Director General/CEO by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a few months ago. This is because he has brought his knowledge, ability, experience, and doggedness to bear in carrying out his assignment in charge of the Council.

The RMRDC, operating under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology, is pivotal in driving Nigeria’s industrial growth by optimizing local raw materials exploitation, development, and utilization. RMRDC, ab initio, was conceived as a child of necessity when Nigeria was reeling from the throes of global recession and plummeting crude oil prices.

Without an iota of doubt, today, the council is experiencing a transformation with massive innovation in raw material exploitation, development, and utilization, supporting business and industrial growth, and contributing to Nigeria’s economic prosperity.

Speaking during a press briefing on Tuesday, in Abuja to commemorate his 100 days in office, he said the council is laying a solid foundation through numerous innovations that will further enhance growth in the country.

According to him, “In the past 100 days, my strategic pursuits have been to lay solid foundations for enduring success in these goals.

“Upon assuming this position, I set five crucial deliverables which include, refocusing the Council as a premier research institution; Strengthening the Council’s productivity and operational efficiency; and Significantly improving the staff welfare to be the best in the class of similar organizations.

“Others include, Boosting the Council’s visibility and instituting remarkable culture change that encourages ownership and productivity as well as Strengthening and deepening the Council’s place in the international arena.”While speaking on his Achievements so far, the DG revealed further: “My first task, therefore, was to implement a strategic goal-setting for the Council’s staff to define and set out clear objectives and targets to be achieved by the Council within a specified period towards refocusing on this historical mandate. We unleashed five significant initiatives in that regard.

“The nationwide raw material data collection exercise that focused on technical and investment information to drive our mission forward.

“The restructuring and renaming of the former Technology Innovation Complex (TIC), at the Obasanjo Space Center at Airport Road, Abuja, to a Research and Demonstration Plants Complex (RDPC). This complex will be Africa’s first center of excellence in raw material research, featuring state-of-the-art laboratories, technology development workshops, and proof of concept demonstrations.

“We have reactivated the Council’s Journal and repositioned it internationally. The repositioned Journal of Raw Material Research (JORMAR) will host RMRDC’s researchers’ publications, which are crucial in promoting awareness, facilitating knowledge sharing, and informing stakeholders about the opportunities and challenges in Nigeria’s raw materials sector. “The collaboration with universities and academies will strengthen our capacity for conducting market-guided research, ensuring sustained workforce training while deepening our orientation in science.

“The council has reformulated a new template for all our research proposals to ensure and sustain a clear departure from the old culture of blue-sky and deliberately endless research.”Speaking further, Prof Nwanyelugo Martins Ike-Muonso stated that Staff welfare remains a top priority as an issue of unpaid salaries is settled as well as set up a comprehensive welfare program. “Similarly, we established the RMRDC Training School to sustainably build our staff and stakeholders’ capacity to further the staff welfare improvement goal.

“We are committed to openness, inclusiveness, and performance management and have initiated steps to continuously improve staff ownership, orchestrate transformative culture change, boost our corporate visibility, and enhance.

“To further strengthen our visibility and communication strategies, we are upgrading our media infrastructure, which includes the launch of the RMRDC online media platform, The RMRDC TV Online.

“Additionally, we are working hard to effectively enhance the intellectual property and patent portfolio of RMRDC from its current 40 to approximately 200 new patents within the next 24 months. This proactive approach secures valuable IP assets and positions the Council as a leader in innovation within the raw materials sector, contributing to Nigeria’s overall economic growth.“As well as launching an e-registration and certification portal to enhance transparency in the raw materials sector,” DG revealed.

He however reaffirmed his commitment to reshape the future of research, technology, and innovation, driving Nigeria towards an industrially vibrant and technologically resilient economy.

“As I mark 100 days in office, I boldly say that the Council is on the verge of rewriting its history.

“I believe that in no distant future, RMRDC will play a leading role in enhancing raw materials’ development to boost raw materials’ industrial trial processing and attain sustainable industrial growth in Nigeria.

The DG, however, applauded the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, for his unwavering support and mentorship, saying the Minister’s leadership has been instrumental in the progress made so far.

In his opening remarks, the Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Mr Chucks Ngaha commended the hard-working DG who has weathered the storm further to put the Council on the ladder of more prosperity.

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