The Minister of State for the Ministry of Steel Development, Uba Ahmadu has underscored the pivotal role of the minerals and metals sector in propelling the country’s economic growth.
The minister, who speaking at the 5th Council on Mining and Minerals Resources Development (NCMMRD) held in Ilorin, Kwara State, between January 15 and 17, 2024, urged stakeholders to commit to leveraging the sector to elevate Nigeria to higher levels of economic and infrastructural development.
Ahmadu highlighted that the council provided an ideal platform for stakeholders to establish efficient partnerships and formulate strategies that would transform the nation’s minerals and metals ambitions into actionable initiatives, positioning Nigeria as a continental powerhouse for economic transformation.
“The minerals and metals sector is the backbone of modern infrastructure, industrial development, and the foundation upon which countless other sectors thrive,” emphasised the Minister, adding that building a robust Nigerian minerals and metals industry is not just an economic imperative but a national one, fostering job creation, community empowerment and laying the groundwork for a self-reliant, diversified economy.
Expressing optimism, Ahmadu stated that the vision of a vibrant minerals and metals sector is attainable, given the country’s resources, ingenuity, and indomitable spirit. He urged stakeholders to ensure that the council serves as more than a forum for discussion but becomes a catalyst for action, fostering commitment to unlocking the immense potential of the sector.
The Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who hosted the council, echoed the alignment of the event’s theme, “Minerals and Metal: A Panacea for Economic Growth and Diversification,” with the state’s economic agenda. Emphasising the need to diversify the economy and harness the potential in the minerals and metals sectors, he disclosed plans to register special purpose vehicles (SPVs) and establish a standard mineral market in the state.
Abdulrazaq appealed to the ministers and directors generals of the agencies in the ministries to provide the necessary assistance to help Kwara State become a major minerals and metals producing State in the country, highlighting the abundant viable mineral resources across the state’s 16 local government areas.
The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and Ministry of Steel Development, Dr. Mary A Ogbe expressed gratitude to the government of Kwara State for hosting the council and commended participants for contributing to the success of the meeting. She assured stakeholders of the ministries’ commitment to executing the recommendations reached at the council.
In his welcome address, the Kwara Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Abdulguawiy Olododo thanked participants for the fruitful deliberations and reiterated the state’s commitment to the industry for the economic advancement of Kwara State. He emphasised the state’s safety for business and extended a warm invitation to investors, citing collaborative efforts with security agencies to ensure a conducive business environment.
