Minister Backs Tinubu’s Re-election, Cites Industrialisation, Technology Development

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, has backed President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, citing the administration’s commitment to industrialisation, technology development and efforts to grow Nigeria’s economy to $1 trillion.

Udeh called on Nigerians to support Tinubu’s return in 2027, saying a second term would enable the administration to complete its ongoing initiatives in research, commercialisation, technology transfer and value addition to raw materials.

The minister made the call during a press conference in Abuja at the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), ahead of the second edition of the African Raw Materials Summit (ARMS 2026), scheduled for October 19 in the Nigerian capital.

He said the summit would bring together investors, researchers, development planners and industrial leaders across Africa’s raw materials value chain to explore opportunities for industrial development.

Udeh described a bill seeking to mandate 30 per cent value addition to Nigeria’s raw materials, which is awaiting presidential assent, as a landmark initiative.

He said the proposed legislation reflected efforts by the Tinubu administration to ensure that Nigeria derived greater economic benefits from its abundant raw materials by processing them into finished or semi-finished products rather than exporting them in their raw forms.

The minister stressed that science, technology and innovation were essential to the development and independence of any country, adding that no nation could achieve political and economic independence without them.

He said the administration was strengthening Nigerians’ capacity to develop and build technology rather than depend solely on imported technologies, as part of efforts to transform Nigeria into a knowledge-based economy.

“The president understands what it takes, and that is why he has supported and energised commercialisation, which would lead to job creation and accelerate industrialisation.

“So, President Tinubu is keen on job creation, improving Nigeria’s economic growth and ensuring that the benefits trickle down to all Nigerians,” he said.

Udeh urged Nigerians to support the president’s return in 2027 to enable the administration to complete its programmes on research, commercialisation, value addition and technology transfer.

“We need to support the president to return so that we can complete what we have started, complete the process of getting Nigeria value addition, complete the process of establishment of research, complete the process of energised commercialisation and complete the process of transfer of technology,” he said.

He described ARMS 2026 as a platform for collaboration, coordination and the exchange of ideas among stakeholders in Africa’s innovation ecosystem.

According to him, participants from different sectors would identify challenges, propose solutions and explore strategies to strengthen the continent’s industrial capacity.

“There will be concerted effort to move Africa from exporting raw materials to exporting finished goods through value addition,” he added.

Earlier, the Director-General of the RMRDC, Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, said the transformation of Africa’s raw materials had become a priority.

He noted that Udeh, as the supervising minister of agencies under the ministry, had an important role to play in advancing efforts to promote value addition and industrial development.