The federal government has expressed its commitment to promoting gender equity and equality in the country’s burgeoning mining sector.
The minister of solid minerals development, Dr Dele Alake, who stated this Tuesday in Abuja during the launch of the Gender Strategy for the Mining and Steel Sectors and the WIMIN Strategy, asserted that the initiative will foster diversity, empower women and enhance the overall sustainability of the mining sector.
According to him, as part of efforts of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and Ministry of Steel Development to implement this roadmap initiative, the World Bank-supported Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (MinDiver) had engaged a consultancy firm, N & G Consulting Firm Ltd, to develop the gender strategy.
”In line with the strategy objectives, which are firmly rooted in the principles of equality, diversity, and empowerment, in both Ministries, we are committed to increasing women’s participation in leadership and governance roles within the mining sector and communities,” he said.
Alake said the President Bola Tinubu administration accorded importance to gender equity and female participation in its Roadmap for the Growth and Development of the Nigerian Mining Industry.
He said, ”We believe that promoting gender equality is both a moral and strategic decision that will drive innovation, enhance productivity and contribute to the sustainable development of our nation. We encourage our stakeholders to also entrench gender equality in their organisations.
“As we gather here, we recognise the indispensable contributions of women to the success and sustainability of the mining sector role, thereby shaping our nation’s development. Their talents, expertise, and perspectives are also essential to the success and growth of the mining industry.”
He noted that the present administration had demonstrated unwavering commitment to foster diversity and empower women by implementing its roadmap initiative, adding in lighter note that in his office he appointed more female aides.
In her address at the event, the national president, Women In Mining In Nigeria (WIMIN); Engineer Mrs Janet Adeyemi, traced the humble beginnings of the group in response to the poor working conditions of Jos women involved in tin mining and said the group had grown and established linkages to regional, continental and global women in mining associations.
Adeyemi, who was represented by WIMIN national secretary Mrs Emily Ofodile, said, “Today’s launch serves as a beacon of hope – a rallying cry for collective action and solidarity. It is a platform to disseminate these transformative strategies, mobilise stakeholders, and ignite a movement towards meaningful change.”
On her part, the permanent secretary, Ministries of Solid Minerals Development and Steel Development, Dr Mary Ogbe admonished industry players to be resolute in implementing the gender strategy effectively, adding that women can achieve their inclusion and equality not by might but using their intelligence.
In his speech, the project coordinator, MinDiver, Engr Sallim Salam, spoke about the agency’s effort to develop the gender strategy document, which he said will help to mainstream women in the sector.
