The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, has said Africa cannot achieve genuine economic independence without developing its own science, technology and innovation capabilities
Udeh said African countries must reduce their dependence on foreign technology and strengthen local research and innovation to maximise the benefits of their natural resources
The minister spoke on Thursday in Abuja at a press conference ahead of the 2026 Africa Raw Materials Summit, organised by the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC)
He said dependence on foreign technology could undermine countries’ ability to control the exploitation, processing and commercialisation of their resources
“If you are dependent, if you are not yet free or independent as it relates to technology, science and innovation, you can’t actually be independent politically and economically,” he said
The minister was responding to a question on how Nigeria could ensure that indigenous technology was deployed in the exploitation of its raw materials to prevent foreign investors from withholding critical information about the resources and their commercial value
Udeh said Nigeria needed a knowledge-based economy to achieve its ambition of a $1 trillion gross domestic product
According to him, the government is pursuing initiatives to support research, commercialise discoveries and encourage industries to adopt locally developed technologies
The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government was pursuing a proposed amendment to the law establishing the RMRDC to introduce a minimum of 30 per cent value addition to raw materials before export
He said the measure was intended to ensure that Nigeria moved beyond exporting unprocessed commodities to producing semi-finished and finished goods
Udeh explained that the proposed legislation would provide a framework for encouraging local processing, with incentives to promote compliance by industry players
He said the RMRDC would support the process by conducting research into the potential uses of raw materials and providing the knowledge required by manufacturers to develop marketable products
The minister added that the government was also working towards establishing the National Research and Innovation Development Fund to support research and the commercialisation of its outcomes
He said research institutions and universities must move beyond producing findings to ensuring that their discoveries are translated into products, services and industrial applications
Udeh said the Africa Raw Materials Summit would bring together policymakers, researchers, investors and industry leaders to review progress made since the maiden edition and develop practical solutions to challenges confronting the continent’s raw materials sector
He said the summit would provide an opportunity for African countries to share experiences, learn from successful initiatives and agree on measures to promote local processing and industrial development
According to him, the gathering would also help establish mechanisms for tracking commitments and reviewing implementation across participating countries