NSUK Launches Africa’s First Materials Development Institute, Hosts Retreat on R&D Commercialization and Entrepreneurship

Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), has pioneered Africa’s first Materials Development Institute (MDI) and hosted a collaborative retreat on Thursday, 22 January 2026, in partnership with the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC).

The retreat, themed “Raw Materials Development through R&D Commercialization and Entrepreneurship,” focused on designing a university curriculum to equip students with the skills and competencies to drive innovation, commercialization, and entrepreneurship in raw materials development.

The event took place at the S. B. Mohammed Auditorium, School of Postgraduate Studies, NSUK, and brought together academics, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to address the challenges of raw materials utilization and value addition in Nigeria.

Representing the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Maikano Muhammad Ari, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a forward-looking curriculum framework designed to equip postgraduate students with practical research and innovation experience. He emphasized that the programme would foster skills in processing quality products aligned with contemporary entrepreneurial demands.

In his opening remarks, the Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies, Professor Abdullahi Adamu Sulaiman, highlighted the historic nature of the retreat, noting that the transformation of raw materials into finished goods is central to national development.

The Director-General of RMRDC, Professor Nnayelogu Martins Ike-Muonso, represented by Professor John John Ukeh, described the gathering as the realization of a long-awaited vision. He commended NSUK for establishing the first Materials Development Institute in Nigeria and Africa, urging the Institute to anticipate future industrial needs and lead in materials science research.

Representing the National Universities Commission (NUC), Dr Esther I. Mmeka emphasized Nigeria’s abundant natural resources and the need for stronger collaboration between universities, policymakers, and industry. She called for practical training, entrepreneurship integration, curriculum responsiveness to technological change, and commercialization skills to strengthen the nation’s raw materials sector.

Various dignitaries delivering goodwill messages hailed NSUK as a knowledge hub for raw materials development in Nigeria and encouraged the Institute to adopt bold, innovative approaches to advance materials science and technology marketing globally.

The retreat featured in-depth discussions on practical solutions to raw materials challenges in Nigeria and across Africa, setting a roadmap for research-driven innovation and entrepreneurship in the sector.