By Abdullahi Lukman
The Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), in partnership with the Sahelian Institute for Bamboo Research and Entrepreneurship Development (SIBRED), has hosted an Investors’ Forum in Awka, Anambra State, to promote investment in Nigeria’s largely untapped bamboo value chain.
The forum, held in Awka on Monday, focused on unlocking the significant yet underexplored potential of bamboo in Anambra and throughout Nigeria.
It brought together experts and stakeholders who highlighted the economic, environmental, and industrial potential of bamboo as a renewable resource.
Professor Muyisa Kazimoto, Vice-Chancellor of the Open Learning University in the Democratic Republic of Congo, described bamboo as a transformative tool for Africa’s sustainability agenda.
He cited poor policy coordination, lack of processing infrastructure, and limited innovation as key barriers to its development in Nigeria and across Africa.
He called for bamboo to be integrated into national development strategies, supported by public-private partnerships, innovation zones, and inclusive, community-based enterprises.
“Bamboo grows rapidly, regenerates without replanting, and offers significant economic and environmental benefits,” he said.
RMRDC Director-General, Prof. Nnayelugo Ike-Muonso, emphasized that Nigeria has not yet fully utilized bamboo despite its potential to boost job creation, reduce deforestation, and support the green economy.
He urged the adoption of modern technologies and investment models to unlock its value.
Echoing these sentiments, Mrs. Diana Doheny, Co-founder of Afroforestry Impact and Regeneration (USA), noted that the global bamboo market is projected to grow from $67.13 billion in 2024 to $90 billion by 2030.
She said China currently dominates the sector, producing over 60% of global supply and exporting to more than 100 countries.
Doheny added that bamboo is being used in structural timber, furniture, and even as an additive in cement production, highlighting its growing relevance in sustainable construction.
Dr. John Ogbodo, Director of SIBRED, expressed concern that despite Nigeria being the second-largest bamboo producer in West Africa, the country lacks a national bamboo policy and standards for plantation development.
He revealed that no state in Nigeria currently has a hectare of bamboo forest under cultivation or an official government nursery with a significant number of seedlings.
He expressed hope that the forum would trigger serious investment and policy attention to drive bamboo development in Anambra and across Nigeria.
