By Meletus EZE
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) says the local content development policy of Federal Government will work if citizens change their mindset toward locally-made products.
The Deputy Director, Ward-Based Cluster Division of the council, Mrs Rachael Kotso, , said this on Tuesday in Abuja.
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari earlier in the year approved Executive Orders 3 and 5, targeted at promoting local content among public and private institutions.
Kotso, who said that there were quality local cosmetic products processed and manufactured in the country, noted, however, that “most citizens do not trust local products.
“Most times in trying to convince people to use locally-made-products, you realise that they are not even aware that such quality products exist.
“Therefore, awareness is needed to promote local content: however, there are situations where citizens do not believe in the quality of local products.
“There is also the issue of mindset, we have been used to imported things over the years and we feel that the ones imported are superior to what we have here.
“It is time for us to start accepting our own products, that is the only way we can move forward, that is the only way the local content development policy will succeed.”
The official further said that the council was driving the process in ensuring the production of quality products from the country’s raw materials.
She said that some of the products the council was focusing on include Shea butter and honey, noting that RMRDC was making efforts toward building the capacity of players in the area.
He explained that “we are ensuring that our domestic cosmetic processed raw materials, especially honey and Shea butter, is manufactured under worthy conditions and healthy for use.
“Our mandate is to ensure that we have quality raw materials out there in industries for Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) to utilise.
“Standard enforcement is not our mandate, but we are working with relevant agencies to ensure that we get to that point where our raw materials meet the standard requirement.
“RMRDC is spending money to bring players in the industry from the rural areas to build their capacity, to work on those raw materials and bring out the best for anyone to use.
“We can’t do it alone, we are driving the process and ensuring that other stakeholders are also involved.”
Kotso recalled that the council in September trained local Shea butter and honey producers in the country to build their capacity to meet global best practices.
She stressed that the training was expected to foster employment creation, poverty reduction of rural-based honey and Shea nut butter producing communities.
The official added that the local producers would be economically empowered through enhanced income, among other expectations.
According to Kotso, boosting the production of Shea butter and honey
in the country is part of the strategic projects of the council to reposition raw materials for enhanced production and to meet global competitiveness.
