The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has unveiled the Digital Journal of Raw Materials Research (JORMAR) as part of efforts to strengthen research, drive innovation, promote industrial growth and support Nigeria’s economic diversification.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of RMRDC, Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike Muonso, announced the initiative on Thursday in Abuja during the inauguration of the digital journal.
He said JORMAR was conceived as a fully digital successor to the council’s print only journal, which dates back to 1988, and is designed to meet global standards for research publication.
According to him, the journal will serve as both a peer reviewed scientific publication and a national repository for verified information on the location and quality of Nigeria’s raw materials.
“It is designed to match the rigour, reach and reliability of the world’s top research journals,” he said.
Ike Muonso noted that the platform would eliminate longstanding barriers faced by Nigerian researchers, inventors and industry practitioners seeking credible outlets to publish their findings.
“Countless researchers, inventors and industry practitioners have carried strong ideas and solid work for years with nowhere to publish them. This journal gives them that fair, accessible platform so that their findings, inventions and insights can be seen, validated and built upon,” he said.
He urged policymakers, investors, manufacturers and universities to utilise evidence generated through JORMAR to guide investment decisions, reduce dependence on imported raw materials and promote value addition.
According to him, the initiative will contribute significantly to economic diversification, local industrial development and sustainable growth.
He added that the council remains committed to nurturing a new generation of researchers dedicated to advancing raw materials development in Nigeria.
Chairman of the JORMAR Implementation Committee, Dr. Sab Ebiriekwe, said industrial progress depends on access to quality research and noted that the new platform marks a fresh chapter for raw materials research in the country.
He explained that although the print version of the journal ceased publication in 2017, previous contributors can now easily access their earlier works through the digital platform.
Also speaking, the Editor in Chief of JORMAR, Prof. Azikiwe Onwualu, represented by Dr. Abdulhakeem Bello, stressed the importance of digital publishing in improving research visibility.
He said many researchers had struggled to publish groundbreaking ideas and practical findings, but JORMAR now provides equal opportunities for researchers, inventors and industry experts to showcase their work both locally and internationally.
According to him, the platform is fully digital, peer reviewed, globally accessible and built to meet international publishing standards.
He encouraged researchers and stakeholders to make use of the open access platform available through the council’s website.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that JORMAR complements the Nigerian Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products, inaugurated on April 21, as part of RMRDC’s efforts to improve local sourcing, reduce imports and promote industrial development.
While the Nigerian Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products addresses gaps in outdated and fragmented raw materials data, JORMAR provides a dedicated platform for publishing high quality research on Nigeria’s raw materials sector.
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