Mining Stakeholders Converge On Ilorin For National Conference

Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, is the venue of the 5th edition of the National Council on Mining and Mineral Resources Development (NCMMRD) organized jointly by the Ministries of Solid Minerals Development and Steel Development.

From Monday 15 to Wednesday 17 January 2024, stakeholders in the minerals and metals sector will gather for this annual event to address key issues towards repositioning of the sector for rapid socio-economic growth and development of the country.
The conference, with theme ‘Minerals and Metals Sector: A Panacea for Economic Growth and Diversity,’’ will have participants, including Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Women In Mining (WIM), Minerals Resources and Environmental Committee (NIREMCO) and other operators.

According to a statement by Alaba R. Balogun, deputy director, information and public relations, in the ministry, the minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake, will address the Council whose membership is made up of the ministries, commissioners, permanent secretaries in charge of mineral resources at the state levels and other relevant stakeholders in the minerals and metals sector.

The statement recalled that Alake had spoken often about the importance the minerals sector in Nigeria’s economic future wellbeing.

“It is worthwhile to reiterate that the minister for solid minerals development, Dr Alake has asserted at various fora that the minerals sector is the next petroleum of Nigeria, coupled with the global transition from fossil fuel to green energy; and the avowed determination of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to diversify the economy and uplift millions of Nigerians out of poverty level,” it said.

The statement further revealed that at the last edition of the conference, a total of 31 memoranda were considered and recommendations made. In this editions, stakeholders are expected to bring papers on key thematic areas including Community Development and Inclusiveness in the Nigerian Minerals and Metals sector: Prospects and Problems; Curbing the menace of Illegal mining operations in Nigeria; Minerals Resources Management: A key to the realization of Economic Diversification for the nation, and Lithium as Energy Transition Minerals in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges.