Dr Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, has stressed that Africa cannot attain true economic freedom without building its own scientific, technological, and innovative strengths.
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.
What You Should Know
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology has raised concerns that relying heavily on foreign technology compromises Africa’s ability to properly manage and process its natural resources. To combat this, the federal government is pushing for local research development and proposing a law that mandates at least 30 percent value addition to raw materials before export.
- Positive Impact: Encourages local manufacturing, creates domestic jobs, and ensures Nigeria earns more value from its natural resources instead of exporting raw commodities.
- Potential Concerns: Implementation challenges and potential delays for industries that currently lack the infrastructure or readiness for mandatory local processing.
