Business
Council Wants Firm To Commence Operations
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) has called for the commencement of operations at the Ajaokuta Steel Company to enhance indigenous technology in the country.
The Director-General of the council, Prof. Peter Onwualu, made the call while speaking with newsmen in Abuja recently.
Onwualu explained that there were a lot to be achieved with the local raw materials available in the country, adding that the raw materials sector cut across all sectors of the economy.
He said that if the Ajaokuta Steel Company could be put to use, there would be raw materials for fabricators to process equipment that would be used in raw materials processing.
“This is the time to make sure that projects like Ajaokuta Steel commence operations because if this is not done the country machine building capacity will be hampered.
“But if the steel mill works, you will find out that gradually, the country will be able to process all the materials available in the country,’’ Onwualu said.
He explained that paper, textile, building materials, wood and furniture, as well as glass would have been processed from machines that could have been made from steel from Ajaokuta.
Onwualu said that plastic making for all kinds of things including electronics, food and beverages, required raw materials for processing, adding that the problem was “these raw materials are available without value being added to them’’.
According to him, the objective of the council is to create an enabling environment for Nigerians to be able to exploit its natural resources that are available in the country and make them into industrial raw materials.
Onwualu also said that these industrial raw materials would be used essentially in the area of developing technologies for value addition to minerals, industrial crops and a number of other products.
He said that the aim of the council was to gradually reduce the importation of industrial raw materials.
Onwualu urged industrialists to utilise the available raw materials to produce their products and reduce the importation of industrial raw materials into the country.
Business
Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.
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