By: Muhammad Sani Zaria
A one-day workshop aimed at promoting value addition and export of raw materials has been held in Kano with the participation of key stakeholders, government officials, and entrepreneurs from various sectors of the economy.
Speaking during the opening session, Mr. Suleman Halilu, chairman of the occasion, said the workshop was designed to bring together individuals and organizations interested in improving raw materials, either for processing or export, with the relevant government agencies that can support their initiatives.
“The benefit of this workshop, like every other one, is to provide participants with additional knowledge on how to add value to raw materials, enhance export capacity, and boost the national economy,” Mr. Halilu stated.
He emphasized that participants would gain practical insights on how to process, market, and sell their products both locally and internationally.
In his remarks, Mr. Khalid Mustapha, the Coordinator of the Kano State Raw Materials Research and Development Council, explained that the workshop was organized to sensitize the public on three key areas relating to the manufacturing sector and national policy development.
> “The essence of this sensitization is to engage stakeholders on the newly enacted policy of 30 percent raw material value addition for export,” Mustapha noted. “This policy, once fully implemented, will guide industries and the public toward efficient resource utilization and improved value addition.”
Also speaking, Dr. Balary Akimiahe, Director of the Directorate of National Competitiveness Strategy and Special Projects at the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Abuja, said the workshop aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This initiative supports the President’s drive to create jobs, establish new businesses, and expand existing enterprises across small, medium, and large-scale industries,” Dr. Akimiahe said.
He added that the federal government has introduced new tax incentives to support business growth and stimulate industrial development, effective from January 2026.
The workshop concluded with a call for participants to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the new policy framework to improve productivity, competitiveness, and export readiness in Nigeria’s raw material sector.
