In its efforts to strengthen international collaboration and drive research-driven industrialisation across the continent, the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, RMRDC, has achieved a major milestone in global representation.
RMRDC Director-General, Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, has won a landslide victory to become the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Representative on the Board of the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations, WAITRO.
Mrs Nkechi Nnamdi-Anum, Director of the Directorate of Corporate Affairs at RMRDC, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen.
Nnamdi-Anum said the victory was announced at the WAITRO Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye, following elections held from October 26 to 28, 2026.
She said Ike-Muonso emerged victorious in a keenly contested election against two distinguished candidates.
“This is a victory not just for RMRDC and Nigeria, but for the entire Sub-Saharan African region.
“It underscores the confidence the international research community has in Nigeria’s capacity to lead and drive meaningful change in our industrial and technological landscape,” she said.
WAITRO is a global association of industrial and technological research organisations established under the auspices of the United Nations.
It maintains official ties with the United Nations and holds Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), enabling it to contribute expert perspectives to global policy discussions on science, technology and sustainable development.
She noted that through platforms such as WAITRO, RMRDC would continue to bridge the gap between research and industry, facilitate the transfer of critical technologies to local industries, and build a competitive manufacturing sector across Africa.
“Under Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso’s leadership, RMRDC has consistently championed research-driven industrialisation, the development of local raw materials, value addition and strategic international partnerships.
“His election creates new avenues for Nigeria and African institutions to access global expertise, strengthen collaboration and drive innovation-led growth within a framework aligned with global development goals,” she added.
