Alake Urges Ethical Standards At Mining Engineers, Geoscientists’ Induction

No fewer than 259 mining engineers and geoscientists have been formally inducted into the Council of Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG), marking a significant boost to Nigeria’s professional capacity in the solid minerals sector.

The induction took place yesterday in Abuja, where the minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Henry Dele Alake, praised COMEG for its commitment to professionalism, ethical standards and global best practices.

He described the council as a key partner in advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in efforts to diversify the economy through solid minerals development.

Addressing the newly inducted professionals, Alake, who was represented at the event by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Engr Faruk Yusuf Yabo, urged them to uphold integrity, embrace technology and innovation, and prioritise safety and environmental sustainability in their practice. He said strengthening the human capital base of the mining sector remains central to government reforms.

The minister disclosed that in 2025 alone, the ministry issued about 867 mining licences, with revenue from the sector rising from ₦12 billion to over ₦50 billion. He also highlighted expanded geological surveys nationwide, aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s vast mineral resources.

Alake said the federal government would continue to support COMEG through policies, funding and legislation, while calling on stakeholders to maximise the country’s mineral endowments in line with the administration’s $1 trillion economy target.

Earlier, the registrar of COMEG, Professor Zacheus Opafunso, said the induction of 259 professionals reflects ongoing reforms to deepen capacity, professionalism and entrepreneurship in the mining industry. He commended the Minister for providing the policy direction and institutional support that enabled the successful delivery of the 2025 K-Entrepreneurship Training Programme.

Opafunso explained that despite funding challenges following COMEG’s removal from the Federal Government budget in January 2024, ministerial intervention ensured policy continuity and operational stability. He added that national-level approvals for the KME framework and strategic partnerships reduced implementation costs from ₦72 million to ₦20 million.

Also, the director-general of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Professor Olusegun Ige, urged the inductees to uphold ethics, professionalism and national service, describing their roles as critical to the growth of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

The technical session on Mandatory Geo-Entrepreneurship Training on the Preparation of Standard Pre-Drilling Hydro-Geophysical Reports was delivered by Prof. Moshood Tijjani of the Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, while the training on Equipment and Resources Needed for Borehole Water Drilling and Geophysical Investigation was conducted by Dr Ogungbade Olubukola, among others.