Bwari Assures FG Commitments to Ceramics Industry, Unveils Royal Marbles

Bwari Assures FG Commitments to Ceramics Industry, Unveils Royal Marbles

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Honourable Abubakar Bawa Bwari has assured Ceramics Industry of government’s continued supports.

He gave this assurance at the exclusive unveiling of Royal Marble, a product of Royal Engineered Stones Limited. The event, which he believed heralds an exciting time for the ceramics industry in Nigeria and the Solid Minerals sector took place at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

The Minister congratulated the West Africa Ceramics company for using such a unique technology, which he considered among the best in the world.. He promised that the government would support all efforts at adding value to whatever is mined or harvested in the country.

He commended the determination of West Africa Ceramics for continuing to operate in the face of adverse economic conditions and their support towards the economic diversification efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

“The fact is that if this country must realize its dream of economic diversification, the ceramic subsector has a crucial role to play since the main raw material, clay, is found in every nook and cranny of the country”, he noted. He condemned the continued importation of ceramic wares in the country which he said has resulted in loss of massive foreign exchange.

Bwari believed that the rebirth of the ceramics industry is key to attaining economic opportunities and employment for Nigeria teeming youth. He extolled the West African Ceramics for proving that, despite the tough times, the policy of backward integration in the Mineral sector is feasible.

He said the construction industry is growing globally and rapidly because of the urbanization projects of emerging countries and he believed that Royal Marble is set to take over the West Africa market. “The success of this company has further encouraged us to consider the policy of creating ceramic clusters in different parts of the country, to promote economic growth and to also encourage patronage from users through a local content policy”. He expressed hope that the success of the Royal Marble product would inspire further investments in the sector.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Chairman, Royal Engineered Stones Limited, Alhaji Lawal Idirisu, said in more than three decades since he made debut in ceramic tile and sanitary ware production, the Royal brand has become a phenomenon in the lives of all stakeholders in the built environment.

He attributed the success of the stakeholders’ launch of the new extension: Royal Engineered Stones Limited and consequently the new product line- Royal Marble themed ‘Harnessing Engineered Marble for Value Creation in the Built Environment’ to the immeasurably supports received from Nigerians.

Idirisu said Royal Engineered Stones Limited is a wholly indigenous brand manufactured in Nigeria, by Nigerians and for Nigerians, bearing in mind the peculiarity of Nigerians as regards appreciation for aesthetics and sophisticated finishing.

“At industry level, we have consistency tried to set and defined standard, because our mission is to make Royal a portfolio of building aesthetic in the art of finishing in style and to make it a top priority and top of mind in the finishing stage of any building project”, he emphasised.

While reiterating his company’s resolve to retain the inherent attributes of quality, affordability and reliability that has been its critical success factors in earning the trust of the stakeholders over the years in Nigeria, Idirisu commended the commitment of Ministry of Mines and Steel Development for encouraging investments in the production of marbles.

In his remark, the President of the Nigeria Institute of Building, Bldr. Kenneth Nnabuife Nduka saw the launch as another milestone in the foreign investment calculus for the exploration and exploitation of locally available natural Mineral resources. This he believed, would help to produce world class building materials that would market the potentials of Nigeria economy and serves as an added impetus for the implementation of the Federal Government local content policy.