ANAMBRA ASSURES RMRDC OF SUSTAINED PARTNERSHIP ON INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
By Nwanneka Okechukwu
The Anambra State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining collaboration with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) to accelerate industrial growth and mineral resource development in the state.
The Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Prof. Charles Ofoegbu, gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the Anambra State Coordinator of RMRDC, Dr. Uche Arinze Nwosu, and her delegation in Awka on July 24.
Nwosu congratulated the commissioner on his appointment and commended his prompt response to the council’s request for the visit. She described him as an asset to the state and expressed confidence in his ability to advance the ministry’s mandate.
She said the council, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, was mandated to promote the utilisation of locally available raw materials and advise government on their development, conservation and strategic use.
According to her, the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration with the ministry to harness Anambra’s abundant natural resources for sustainable industrialisation and economic development.
Responding, Ofoegbu assured the delegation of the state government’s readiness to deepen its partnership with the council, noting that previous collaboration had contributed to the establishment of the Anambra Solid Minerals Development Company’s kaolin processing plant in Ukpo.
The commissioner said the state would continue to maximise its industrial mineral deposits, including kaolin, bentonite and gravel, adding that Anambra possessed some of Nigeria’s finest mineral resources.
Nwosu reaffirmed the council’s commitment to working closely with the state government to achieve shared objectives of industrial development and economic growth for the benefit of Ndi Anambra.
Nwanneka Okechukwu is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State