By Uloma Peace Okorie
Ike-Muonso leads continental push to transform Africa’s resources into finished products, create jobs and strengthen manufacturing
Africa’s industrial future lies in transforming its abundant natural resources into finished products, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has said, as it intensifies efforts to promote local processing, industrial growth and regional economic integration through the African Raw Materials Summit (ARMS) 2026.
The initiative, championed by the Director-General of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, seeks to reposition Africa from a continent that largely exports raw materials to one that processes its resources into high-value products, creates jobs and builds sustainable manufacturing industries.
The second edition of the African Raw Materials Summit is scheduled to hold from October 19 to 20, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel, under the theme, “From African Feedstock to African Factory.”
The summit is expected to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, academics, manufacturers, investors and entrepreneurs to explore practical strategies for unlocking the continent’s industrial potential through the effective utilisation of its agricultural and mineral resources.
Speaking ahead of the summit, Ike-Muonso emphasised the need for African countries to move beyond the traditional practice of exporting raw commodities with little or no processing and embrace a new industrial model that prioritises local value addition.
He explained that processing raw materials within Africa would enable countries to retain more economic value, strengthen local industries, create employment opportunities and improve the competitiveness of African-made products in global markets.
The RMRDC boss also stressed that achieving this transformation would require coordinated efforts in infrastructure development, logistics, supportive policies, sustainable production, regional integration and investment in innovation.
A key component of the summit is the promotion of a circular industrial economy in which agricultural waste, mine tailings, scrap metals and biomass are converted into useful inputs for other production processes.
According to Ike-Muonso, such an approach would help reduce industrial waste, lower production costs and promote environmentally sustainable and climate-resilient manufacturing.
He further highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a strategic platform for strengthening regional value chains and encouraging African countries to leverage their diverse resources and industrial capabilities to support one another.
The initiative is expected to promote cross-border trade, improve supply chains, encourage backward integration and strengthen collaboration among African manufacturers.
The summit’s Head of Secretariat, Rachael Kotso, alongside the Director of Corporate Affairs, Chinyere Nnamdi-Anum, is also part of the team driving awareness and engagement around the continental platform.
Organisers say ARMS 2026 will provide an opportunity for stakeholders to develop practical partnerships that connect raw-material producers with researchers, investors and manufacturers, with the ultimate goal of expanding Africa’s industrial capacity.
For RMRDC, the summit represents a renewed commitment to promoting a development model in which Africa’s natural resources become the foundation for stronger industries, increased economic opportunities and sustainable prosperity.
With Ike-Muonso at the forefront of the initiative, ARMS 2026 is positioning local raw-material processing and value addition as key drivers of Africa’s industrial transformation, encouraging a future in which African resources increasingly power African factories.
