The Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Muonso has emerged winner of the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Representative position on the Board of the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations (WAITRO), in a landslide victory at the WAITRO Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye.
In a statement by the Director, corporate affairs RMRDC, Mrs. Nnamdi Anum, Prof. Ike-Muonso’s election, announced at the summit holding from October 26 to 28, 2026, marks a significant milestone for Nigeria and RMRDC, strengthening the country’s representation in the international research, technology and innovation community.
The RMRDC Director-General contested the position alongside two distinguished candidates: Prof. Wellington Riach Liamba Masamba, Vice-Chancellor of the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), Botswana, and Prof. Mohammed Aliyu Paiko, Vice-Chancellor of Abdulkadir Kure University (AKUM), Nigeria.
His emergence as the successful candidate presents an important opportunity to advance African research priorities, strengthen international partnerships and promote the application of research and technological innovations to industrial development across the continent.
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WAITRO is a global association of industrial and technological research organisations that facilitates collaboration, knowledge exchange and partnerships among research institutions, universities, industries and innovation stakeholders.
Through its governance structure, the organisation provides a platform for regional representatives to contribute to international research and technology development initiatives.
Prof. Ike-Muonso’s election comes amid RMRDC’s sustained efforts to promote research-driven industrialisation, indigenous raw materials development, value addition, technology commercialisation and strategic partnerships with national and international institutions.
Under his leadership, the Council has continued to pursue initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between research and industry, strengthening the commercialisation of research findings, promoting local processing of raw materials and supporting the development of a competitive manufacturing sector in Nigeria.
RMRDC’s engagement with international research and technology organisations, including WAITRO, reflects the Council’s commitment to leveraging global expertise and partnerships to advance Nigeria’s industrial development agenda.
His election to the WAITRO Board is expected to provide a broader platform for promoting collaboration among African research institutions, encouraging technology transfer, facilitating knowledge sharing and advancing innovative solutions to the continent’s industrial and economic challenges.
For Nigeria and the wider Sub-Saharan African region, the development represents an opportunity to strengthen participation in international conversations on scientific research, technological innovation and sustainable industrial transformation.
The WAITRO Summit 2026 brings together research and technology organisations, universities, industry leaders, policymakers and innovation partners to explore collaborative approaches to research, innovation and sustainable development.
