The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development is set to reposition the mining industry by acknowledging past achievements even as it projects into the future.
This assertion was made on Thursday in Abuja by the minister Dr Dele Alake who was represented by the permanent secretary Engr Faruk Yusuf Yabo at a press briefing to herald this year’s Mining Week scheduled for October in Abuja.
This year’s edition marks the 10th anniversary of the event which has been used over the years to showcase the sector to the outside world.
According to Engr. Yabo, “We want to use this sector to achieve the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu. Our effort is to scale up the industry towards sustainability. To that extent, the ministry is proud to serve as host by reflecting our commitment to making mining a pillar of President Tinubu’s government towards diversification of our economy away from oil. With our mineral endowment, Nigeria is ready for a profitable mining environment.”
He reiterated that the legal framework for the industry is being strengthened using what he called best efforts and instruments of government so that mining can become attractive and be able to contribute actively to the country’s GDP and ultimately generate employments.
Earlier, the director of IPMT in the ministry, Esther Udoh, said Mining Week is a foremost platform for stakeholders in the mining sector, saying that the 10th edition underscores the commitment of the ministry to reposition the country’s mining sector.
According to her, “We are presented with immense opportunities to harness the potentials in the industry. That is why stakeholders like the academia, miners, financial institutions, sponsors and the media are gathering to brainstorm on ways forward.”
The president of Miners Association of Nigeria Dele Ayanleke said in the past nine years, the annual event had stood tall in leading conversations that hallmarked the growth and development of the sector.
“It has remained the prime platform for the incubation of innovative ideas fuelling sectoral growth and showcasing emerging global technologies and methodologies in mining jurisdiction, launching of national landmark achievements in our regulatory oversights,” he said.
There were goodwill messages from VUKA Group, PwC Nigeria and Kaduna Mining Development Company and other partners.
The Mining Week is usually attended by participants from China, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, India, Ghana, DRC, Sierra Leone and Egypt.
