Experts, investors meet to discuss new opportunities for Nigeria’s mineral and energy resource exploration

Ayobami Adedinni
Stakeholders in the Mining sector are set to converge at the Nigeria Mining Week 2018 to discuss new investments opportunities for the Nigeria’s mineral and energy resource exploration.
The Nigeria Mining Week in Abuja in October which is in its third edition has been described as a great forum to interact with all stakeholders and highlight successes and challenges faced by the operators.
The event also highlights the vast opportunities within Nigeria for other explorers and support services, such as OEM and analytical laboratories.
Industry watchers have said the sector has witnessed some phenomenal developments and holds huge potential capable of turning the economy round.
Despite massive mineral wealth, the Nigerian mining industry is vastly underdeveloped and only accounts for 0.3 per cent of the country’s GDP – and this due to oil resources.
The underdevelopment is resulting in Nigeria having to import processed minerals, even though it could be locally produced.
Nigeria is rich in different solid minerals deposits which if mined are used in different sectors for different developmental purposes. A mineral is a naturally occurring substance that is solid and inorganic.
Reports suggest that there are over 30 different kinds of solid minerals and precious metals (Sapphire, Aquamarine, Topaz etc.) buried in Nigerian soil waiting to be exploited.
This include: Clay, Coal, Gypsum, Magnetite, Kaolin, Limestone, Columbite, Casseterite, Fluorite, Wolframite, Gemstones, Barite, Bentonite, Tantalite, Lead, Zinc, Bitumen, Talc, Feldspar, Gold, Iron Ore, Silver, Lithium, Mica, Kyanite, Phosphate, Quartz, Manganese and Glass sand.
The event will provide a platform for professionals, operators, investors, governments, agencies, trainers and trainees, in the sector to converge, exchange ideas, initiate/seal deals, and win mandates. It will also be a platform for recognition of ingenuities, innovations, investments and bold strides players have made in this rich sector of national and continental economy.
Among speakers expected at the event include PRINCE ADETOKUNBO KAYODE, CON, SAN, President, Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Nigeria
AMINU TAKUMA SULEMAN, Deputy Director, States Coordination Department, Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Nigeria
MOHAMMED LAWAL BUGA, Director (Head of Industrial Chemicals & Minerals Dept), Raw Materials research & Development Council) RMRDC
UYI AKPATA, Country and Regional Senior Partner, PwC
ABIODUN BAIYEWU, Country Director, Global Rights, Nigeria,
ENGR. ALH MOHAMMED AMATE, Director General, Nigeria Mining Cadastre, Nigeria
ALEX NDUBUISI NWEGBU, Director General, Geological Survey Agency
PATRICK OJEKA,Director, Artisanal and Small Scale Mining Department,Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria
HABEEB JAIYEOLA, Director, Head Mining Industry, PwC, Nigeria,
ENGR. SALLIM ADEGBOYEGA SALA, Director, Mines Environmental Compliance, Federal Ministry of Environment,
KENNETH ERIKHUME, Director, Tax and Corporate Advisory Services, PwC,
ALHAJI SANI SHEHU,President, MAN, Nigeria
HON. JANET ADEYEMI, President, Women in Mining, Nigeria
LINUS ADIE, Project coordinator, The World Bank.
SANI YAKUBU, Senior Special Assistant to the President ( ERGP Implementation), Ministry of Budget and National Planning among others.