Nigeria: The Ministry of Trade and Investment (MTI) has set up an institute called the Cement Technology Institute (CTI) to boost the quality of cement production in Nigeria. The Trade and Investment Minister Dr Olusegun Aganga, explained that the Institute would assist Nigeria in optimising its cement production capacity and capability, through acquisition and development of the appropriate technologies.

The announcement was made as the minister inaugurated the Board of Trustee (BoT) and the Project Implementation Team (PIT) for the CTI in Abuja. The Board is chaired by the Group President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, while the Chairman of the PTI will be Alhaji Lateef G Salami, who is the Director of the Industrial Development department in the MTI. Inaugurating the BoT, the Minister pointed out that the Institute would also be the fulcrum for the positioning of Nigeria as a net exporter of cement with the capacity of meeting the needs of the Economic Community of West African States.

The CTI will carry out research and development, technology adaptation and develop human capabilities. Aganga added that the objectives of the institute were: to train and enhance manpower in cement technology and related fields especially at the middle management level; to undertake research and development in the areas of suitable alternative technologies in cement manufacturing; promoting the use of local raw materials for cement manufacturing.

Others areas to be covered include: the development of specialised cements; improving and increasing the use of mineral admixtures; and the development of cleaner and more environmentally-friendly production processes, waste management systems and energy conservation methods. The CTI will work closely with other institutes and will run as a non-governmental organisation with the BoT members drawn from both government and major stakeholders in the cement industry.