Business
RMRDC, AUST Tackle Dearth of Raw Materials Testing Facilities Across Nigeria
Worried by the dearth of raw materials testing and analysis facilities across the country, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) and the African University of Science and Technology (AUST) have taken a bold step to establish a testing and analysis centre for testing agriculture and mineral raw materials in Nigeria.
The Centre which is located within the campus of the AUST is expected to deepen collaboration between the two institutions in the areas of research, innovation as well as training for SMEs to be able to add value to local raw materials.
Speaking during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), the President of AUST, Professor Peter Azikiwe Onwualu commended the management of RMRDC under the visionary leadership of Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso for not only identifying the challenge but also taking strategic steps to address them. Prof Onwualu stated that the agreement will be hinge on the triple helix concept which brings together government, industry, and the academic to address these challenges.
The AUST President emphasized that the partnership is a major leap towards Nigeria’s industrial development as the Mineral Testing Facility will serve as a centre for skills development, knowledge sharing, agriculture and mineral testing for SMEs and other industries, as well as support the Council’s drive to achieve 30% minimum value addition to local raw materials before export.
The Director General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso thanked the AUST for the collaboration which has culminated in the signing of the MoA. He stressed that the Mineral Testing Centre was RMRDC’s response to addressing identified gaps in testing and analysing raw materials by SMEs and industries in Nigeria.
Prof. Ike-Muonso revealed that the 30% value addition drive of the Council has the capacity to trigger global resources to Nigeria that can boost the country’s foreign exchange earnings. He emphasized that with the establishment of the Mineral Testing and Analysis Centre within the AUST campus in Abuja, industries would no longer need to take their products abroad for testing and analysis as the Centre would be well-equipped to carry out tests for both agriculture and mineral raw materials for quality and specifications.
The DG observed that the partnership will provide critical support to the newly established Mineral Testing Centre, the Raw Materials Development Complex, and the RMRDC Training School by contributing to capacity building, technical expertise, and knowledge transfer. A central component of this collaboration is the launch of specialized postgraduate programmes in partnership with the African University of Science and Technology (AUST), aimed at addressing gaps in the raw materials sector through advanced academic and applied research.
He said the postgraduate programmes, targeting master’s and doctoral-level candidates, will focus on key areas such as materials science, industrial chemistry, mineral processing, metallurgy, sustainable manufacturing, and innovation in raw materials development. The curriculum will be designed to align with national priorities and global best practices, equipping a new generation of scientists, engineers, and policy experts with the skills required to drive value addition, local content development, and industrial competitiveness in Nigeria.
“Through research projects, industrial placements, and collaborative innovation labs, the programme will not only enhance the technical capacity of RMRDC and its stakeholders but also serve as a pipeline for grooming future leaders in Nigeria’s raw materials and industrial sectors, including building capacity for staff of RMRDC,” he noted.
The RMRDC DG stated further that the Council’s vision is to establish raw materials testing and analysis centres in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria as a way of encouraging SMEs and industries to carry out their agriculture and mineral testing and analysis in the country.
Business
FG, Investonaire Academy Unveil National Programme to Equip 100,000 Youths with Financial Skills, Digital Wealth Tools
By Joel Ajayi
The Federal Government, in collaboration with Investonaire Academy, has unveiled a nationwide financial literacy and wealth-building programme targeting more than 100,000 young Nigerians. The initiative is designed to equip participants with practical skills in budgeting, saving, investing, asset building, and long-term financial planning, positioning them for sustainable prosperity in a rapidly evolving economy.
Launched on Tuesday in Abuja, the Honourable Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, described financial literacy as a necessary survival tool for young people confronting today’s economic realities.
He noted that the initiative represents the foundation of a broader vision expected to extend beyond Nigeria to other African nations and global markets.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting over 4,000 corps members annually, the Minister said the programme will provide platforms, resources, and skills needed for both job creation and employability.
“The young people who understand money — how to save, invest, build assets, and manage risk — are the ones who will lead Nigeria into prosperity,” he said.
A major highlight of the launch was the expansion of the Nigeria Youth Academy, a digital platform offering mentorship, training, and startup support. According to the Minister, more than 200 startups will receive empowerment through the Academy’s e-app platform before the end of the year.
He stressed the need for deeper collaboration with private organisations, innovators, and youth-focused groups, noting that government alone cannot drive youth development. He further encouraged young Nigerians to embrace skills acquisition, innovation, and digital enterprise, saying these remain critical to reducing the desire for migration and increasing self-reliance.
Outlining the Ministry’s long-term commitments, Olawande emphasized three priorities: supporting youth innovation, equipping them with growth tools, and safeguarding millions of Nigerian youths under the Ministry’s mandate.
Speaking at the launch, Sebastien Sicre, Chief Operating Officer of Investonaire Academy, said the programme was crafted to revolutionize the way Nigerian youths learn and apply financial knowledge. He highlighted the Academy’s gamified Learning Management System (LMS), which offers interactive learning tools, community forums, and real-time mentorship to make financial education engaging and accessible.
Complementing the digital platform is a new 200-square-metre physical training centre in Abuja, opposite the NNPC Towers, where in-person workshops and mentorship sessions will take place.
The curriculum covers key global asset classes — including equities, commodities, forex, and indices — ensuring participants gain a broad understanding of financial markets.
Sicre added that with Federal Government backing, the programme seeks to unlock new opportunities, strengthen youth participation in the digital economy, and reward outstanding participants through a $1 million funding pool to support new and existing ventures.
International Programme Director of Investonaire Academy, Dr. Enefola Odiba, explained that the initiative aims to bridge long-standing gaps in financial education among Nigerian youths. While schools teach many subjects, he said, essential financial skills are often missing.
“Many people can earn money — earning money can be easy. The real challenge is retaining, managing, and growing that money,” he noted.
Referencing the Central Bank of Nigeria’s definition of financial literacy, Odiba stated that implementation remains a major national challenge. He said the initiative brings together government agencies, youth groups, academic institutions, and private-sector partners to translate strategy into measurable impact.
The programme’s curriculum covers budgeting, saving, investing, and financial planning — areas where many young people struggle. By offering practical training, real-world insights, and guided mentorship, the initiative aims to build a generation of financially empowered youth capable of driving innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic growth.
With this partnership, the Federal Government and Investonaire Academy share a common goal: to empower young Nigerians with the financial intelligence and digital tools needed to build wealth, grow businesses, and transform the nation’s economic future.
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