Through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, the federal government premiered a weekly TV drama series, Hidden Riches, on Saturday night.
The 13-episode series, which will air on National Television Authority (NTA) from January 25 from 8:05 to 8:30 p.m., aims to bring the vast potentialities and government activities to incentivise and attract businessmen to the country’s solid minerals sector to the keener attention of stakeholders, including local and foreign investors.
The drama showcases the vastly untapped opportunities within the sector, which have been crucial in driving economic growth and diversification under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Mary Ogbe, who spoke at the event, stressed collaboration and innovation’s transformative power.
She said: “Hidden Riches is not just a documentary; it’s a call to action for Nigerians and the global community to recognise the limitless possibilities beneath our soil. “This initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda and the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025.”
“Through partnerships like this, we aim to inspire young Nigerians, engage stakeholders, and attract local and international investors to this critical sector.”
She also acknowledged the creativity of Take 7 Media Productions and the visionary leadership of Dr. Oladele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, in championing the sector’s transformation.
The minister’s special adviser, Mr Kehinde Bamgbetan, described the documentary as a creative tool for engaging the public by providing information, entertainment, and communication in one package.
“The media is a powerful instrument for conscientizing Nigerians. Through radio programmes and television series like “Hidden Riches”, we can subtly but effectively highlight the immense potential of our solid minerals sector,” he said.
Bamgbetan outlined the ministry’s reforms, including insisting on value addition, encouraging artisanal miners to form cooperatives and deploying mining marshals to combat illegal mining.
“Our goal is to ensure Nigerians take ownership of the sector, actively participating in and benefiting from its growth,” he said.
The series’ producer, Mr Bem Pever, said the drama was a powerful means of communicating government policies and activities in the sector.
“This series is not just entertainment; it’s a platform to inspire viewers to explore opportunities in this sector,” he said.
Pever and ministry officials praised African Natural Resources and Mines in Kaduna for its support during production and encouraged Nigerians to tune in to NTA for the entire series.
The event featured a panel discussion anchored by a special assistant to the minister, Mr Segun Tomori.
During the session, Mr Partha Ghosh, group head of Africa Industry Group Ltd, spoke of his company’s $600 million investment in iron ore mining and processing in Kaduna State, which has created over 4,000 jobs.
He urged the government to do more in transportation infrastructure, noting that rail and water transportation will help reduce operational costs.
Mr. Patrick Odiegwu, the managing director of Polyguard Investment Nigeria Ltd, noted the importance of local value addition and infrastructure.
“Mining is the foundation of any nation’s industrial base. To fully unlock its potential, we must prioritise local participation and ensure mined resources are processed and consumed locally,” he said.
Another panellist, Mr Tunde Aremu, a media expert, told journalists that they must interrogate policies, engage stakeholders, and connect citizens with the management of their resources.
“Hidden Riches” is the brainchild of Minister Alake’s media aides, led by Lara Owoye Wise, the minister’s special adviser on broadcast media.
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