The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite has charged inductees of the Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG) to join the council to uphold the ethics of the profession, as stipulated in its code of conduct.
The minister gave this charge in Abuja recently, during the occasion of the council’s 12th induction ceremony.
Adegbite said the occasion marks another momentous conjuncture in the council’s journey towards becoming the foremost regulator in Nigeria’s extractive industry.
“Going back in time, I still recount all the laudable achievements of this council in this administration, most of which are in tandem with Mr. President’s aspirations towards building a prosperous nation”.
According to him, these achievements are highly commendable, given that they were achieved under the leadership of its chairman, Dr. Godspower Okpoi and registrar, Prof. Zacheus Opafunso.
Also, he revealed that over the years, the council has consistently been a role model among other agencies under his watch, especially in its quest to ensure professionalism is entrenched by practitioners and the relevant professional practices [are made] lawful by re-introducing and re-energising it’s mandatory professional examination (MPE) in 2020, in line with part IV, section 11 – (1) of the COMEG Act No. 40 of 1990 (now CAP C33 LFN 2004).
The minister, who was represented by his senior assistant, Mr. Olu Adadayo noted that, as a result of the council’s subsisting reviews on examination best practices, its first CBT-based (sit-in and online) examination was conducted in October and November, 2022, respectively, which culminated in the council’s induction of its 12th class of inductees.
He congratulated the inductees and enjoined them to always stand tall in the practice of mining and geoscience in Nigeria. Also, he enjoined them to strive to uphold the ethics of their profession as enshrined in the code of conduct of the council.
Speaking earlier, the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr. Oluwatoyin Akinlade, who was also represented by the director of human resources management, Mr. Muhammad Suleiman said over 200 individuals and corporate inductee- professionals will assist President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to reposition the nation’s minerals and metals Sector for global competitiveness and economic diversification.
She said the nation looks up to COMEG and other professional bodies within the mining sector to live up to high expectation of ensuring steady supply of professionals to drive the transformation of the minerals and metals sector into leading employer of labour, foreign exchange earner and stabiliser of the nation’s macro economy. She urged all the inductees to endeavour to uphold the ethics of the professional practices as it will help reduce the effects of illegal practitioners in the industry.
In his remarks, the chairman of COMEG, Dr. Godspower Ebimotimi Okpoi informed the gathering that the council was established by Decree 40 of 1990 now enshrined as CAP C33 LFN 2004 was promulgated with the responsibilities of prescribing and enforcing the minimum standard of education and experience to be obtained by persons qualified to practice as registered mining engineers, geoscientists, and other professionals; Maintaining discipline in the profession in accordance with the Act; Regulating and controlling the practice of mining, engineering, geosciences and related professions; Proscribing and enforcing the code of conduct of registered mining engineers, geoscientists and other professionals, among others.
He said since its establishment in 1990 and its inauguration in 2021, the council has continued to discharge it’s responsibilities in accordance with its laws and as permitted by prevailing circumstances.
The registrar, Prof. Zacheus Opafunso told the inductees and guests that, in the last 3 years the council has promoted and enshrined the sustenance of professionalism in the Nigerian extractive industry and that the efforts are geared towards enthroning a strong and virile COMEG in accordance with relevant sections of the COMEG Act, resulting in a re-invigorated mandatory professional examination (MPE) exercise as a standard requirement for membership registration prior to every induction ceremony.
He thanked the ministers, the permanent secretary and members of the COMEG for their unwavering support towards the growth and continued sustenance of the council, said a statement signed by the ministry’s director of press and public relations signed by Ijomah Opia.
