The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, has introduced a gender strategy aimed at fostering diversity, empowering women and ensuring the sustainability of the Nigerian mining and steel sectors.
The initiative, launched alongside the Women In Mining In Nigeria (WIMIN) strategy, underscores the administration’s commitment to prioritising gender equity and female participation in national development agendas.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake emphasised the moral and strategic significance of promoting gender equality to drive innovation, enhance productivity and contribute to sustainable development. He acknowledged the invaluable contributions of women to the success and growth of the mining industry, highlighting their talents, expertise and perspectives as essential components of sectoral advancement.
Reflecting on past biases and inequalities against women in the sector, Alake reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to fostering diversity and empowering women through the implementation of strategic initiatives. The development of the gender strategy, facilitated by the consultancy firm N & G Consulting Firm Ltd, signifies a proactive step towards addressing gender disparities and promoting inclusivity within the mining and steel sectors.
Affirming the strategy’s objectives rooted in equality, diversity, and empowerment, the Minister declared a commitment to increasing women’s participation in leadership and governance roles within mining communities and organisations. This declaration serves as a clarion call to action, urging stakeholders to align with the principles of the gender strategy and actively support its implementation.
In her address at the unveiling ceremony, national president of Women In Mining In Nigeria (WIMIN), Engineer Janet Adeyemi highlighted the launch as a beacon of hope and a rallying cry for collective action and solidarity. She emphasised the transformative potential of the strategy in mobilising stakeholders and driving meaningful change towards gender inclusivity and empowerment in the mining sector.
Permanent secretary of the ministries of Solid Minerals Development and Steel Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe urged industry players to remain steadfast in their commitment to effectively implement the gender strategy, ensuring an equitable and inclusive mining sector. Project coordinator of MinDiver, Engineer Sellim Salam emphasised the importance of engaging consultancy firms to conduct gender studies and develop strategies aimed at uplifting women in the sector.
The unveiling ceremony featured a revealing presentation by N & G Consulting Firm Ltd, shedding light on the gender strategy’s objectives and implementation framework. It also witnessed the delivery of goodwill messages from various organisations, affirming their support for promoting gender equity and empowerment in the mining and steel sectors.
The launch of the gender strategy marks a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable environment for women in key sectors of the economy, paving the way for sustainable development and progress.
