…As Society Celebrates 64 Years of Existence
Dr. Samuel Olusunle, a director at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has been awarded the title of Fellow of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (FNMGS), one of Nigeria’s oldest professional organisations.
The late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the first patron of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society.
The society recently concluded its 60th Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE) in Abuja, where it took the opportunity to honour and recognise members who have made significant contributions to the growth and development of the mining and geosciences profession in Nigeria. The accomplishments of the honorees have had a direct impact on the socio-economic development of the country.
The event took place from February 16 to 19, 2025, at the Chida International Hotel, Abuja, culminating in an awards night where Olusunle and 42 others were celebrated with the prestigious fellow designation, the highest honour achievable within the society.
With this conferment, Olusunle can now include the title FNMGS after his name. The Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) was established in 1977, succeeding the Nigerian Mining Geological and Metallurgical Society (NMGMS), which was founded on January 15, 1961, and officially inaugurated on December 17, 1962.
The society is an international professional organisation with objectives that include the advancement of mining, earth sciences and metallurgy; the acquisition, preservation and dissemination of mining geoscientific and metallurgical knowledge; the publication of an interdisciplinary journal of mining and geology (JMG), known as the CRUST; and the publication of periodicals and specialised books, including annual books of abstracts and conference programs. The society also upholds ethical standards and safeguards the interests of the professionals it represents.
Additionally, the society has statutory representation in the Council of the Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG), established by the Federal Republic of Nigeria Decree No. 40 of 1990. The categories of membership include Fellow, Corporate, Graduate, Student, Affiliate, Institutional and Honorary Fellow, with Fellow being the highest distinction.
When asked about the significance of this recognition to him and to NASENI, where he serves as director of research, an elated Olusunle stated, “I give God the glory, and I am truly humbled to be elected a Fellow of NMGS. It is important to note that the mandates of NASENI and the core concerns of NMGS are closely intertwined. NASENI has one of its institutes focused on solid minerals exploitation (SOMMEDI). Furthermore, under the exceptional leadership of the executive vice-chairman/CEO, Khalil S. Halilu, NASENI is actively involved in the Federal Government’s CNG project. These and other significant activities and interventions by NASENI create collaborative opportunities between the agency and NMGS.”
A statement from the agency’s director of information, Olusegun Ayeoyenikan noted that before becoming the research director, Olusunle served as the managing director of the Engineering Materials Development Institute (EMDI) in Akure, one of NASENI’s development institutes. He is also a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE), the Materials Science and Technology Society of Nigeria (MSN), the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), the Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), the Nigerian Metallurgical Society (NMS), among others.
