Solid Minerals Fund Equips Artisanal Gold Miners With Professional Skills

In a renewed push to entrench integrity, professionalism and operational excellence, the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) has trained staff of the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI) on ethics and personal effectiveness, reinforcing its commitment to high standards of service delivery.

The head of Corporate Communications at SMDF, Mrs Idowu Jokpeyibo, who disclosed this in a statement at the weekend, said the two-day capacity-building programme, held in Abuja, was designed to strengthen work ethics, boost productivity and enhance overall institutional performance across the agency.

SMDF executive secretary, Hajiya Fatima Umaru Shinkafi, underscored the importance of upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and accountability in the discharge of official duties.

Shinkafi, who spoke through her personal assistant, Alhaji Abdullahi Odey, described the training as a strategic initiative aimed at deepening professionalism, strengthening staff capacity and improving service delivery outcomes.

She stressed that ethical conduct and personal discipline are critical to achieving organisational objectives, noting that core values such as professionalism, effective communication, teamwork, collaboration, mutual respect and time management remain essential for exceeding public sector service standards.

According to her, a strong work ethic forms the cornerstone of organisational trust, operational efficiency and a healthy workplace culture. She therefore urged participants to maximise opportunities for personal and professional growth, emphasising that the agency’s future depends on collective commitment, as organisational strength is ultimately a reflection of the personal effectiveness of its workforce.

The lead coach and founder of Coaching, Counselling and Allied Services (CCAS), Hajiya Amina Jambo, opened the sessions by encouraging active participation, noting that interactive learning builds confidence and drives productivity.

She highlighted effective time management as fundamental to cultivating sound personal and professional ethics.

The training combined theoretical and practical sessions, equipping participants with hands-on skills in ethical decision-making, workplace conduct and the management of real-life professional scenarios.

In her closing remarks, the agency’s head of Corporate Communications, Mrs Idowu Jokpeyibo, described the programme as a valuable opportunity for staff development. She commended the Executive Secretary for prioritising capacity building and staff welfare, noting that deliberate efforts were made to ensure the initiative’s successful delivery.

She urged staff to internalise the principles of ethical compliance and personal effectiveness as guiding standards in their daily responsibilities. She also acknowledged the contributions of the Human Resources team, led by Alhaji Saliu Abubakar and supported by Adama Bamayi, and expressed appreciation to the facilitators for their impactful delivery.