A new program by the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) aims to empower 1,000 women in Nigeria by teaching them how to mine gemstones and make jewelry. The program, which began with a training session in Lagos, intends to increase economic prospects for women in the industry while maximising the potential of Nigeria’s abundant gemstone resources.
Under President Bola Tinubu’s government, Hajia Fatima Shinkafi, the Executive Secretary of SMDF, emphasised the significance of economic diversification during the ceremony. She emphasised the necessity for the country to use solid minerals in order to lessen its dependency on crude oil, and she commended Dr. Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals, for his assistance in promoting women’s empowerment in the mining sector. Shinkafi claims that the application is made to do more than just to impart jewellery-making knowledge while simultaneously giving them the business-starting tools they need. According to Shinkafi, Nigeria has an abundance of largely unexplored precious stones. She added, “With this training, women will be able to create beautiful jewellery and build thriving businesses,” and that participants will receive scholarships and loans to help them get off the ground.
The president of Nigeria Women in Mining, Engr. Janet Adeyemi, thanked SMDF for its ongoing support and mentioned that the program is in its third iteration. She mentioned that many women had already gained empowerment from earlier iterations, which had enabled them to participate in global mining and jewelry-making. Adeyemi urged continued cooperation to guarantee the participation of women in the mining industry. Former Nigerian ambassador Folakemi Akinleye ambassador to Cambodia and the Philippines, praised the program for giving rural women more influence and increasing prospects in the mining industry. Based on her personal experiences, Akinleye observed that women in the Philippines are actively involved in the mining industry and have a substantial impact on the economic development of the nation. Former Central Bank of Nigeria director Mrs. Tope image called the SMDF’s work a turning point in enhancing women’s lives and encouraging the creation of jobs in Nigeria.
She went on to say that the program will significantly raise women’s economic prospects and skill levels. Dr. Tersoo Aga, a geologist, also spoke at the function and emphasised Nigeria’s enormous mineral resources. He pointed out that there are more than 500 distinct kinds of gemstones in the nation, making this training program an important opportunity. He pointed out that there are more than 500 different kinds of gemstones in the nation, making this training program an important chance for women to take use of this priceless resource. A number of attendees from Zamfara and Lagos expressed hope for the prospects that this training will present. They commended Women in Mining and SMDF for establishing a safe, well-managed route for women to investigate Nigeria’s mining potential and launch their own companies. In Nigeria’s efforts to break down obstacles for women in the mining industry and diversify its economy, this project is regarded as a major step forward. The long-term goals of SMDF include supplying access to markets, maintaining assistance, and encouraging the expansion of small enterprises and cooperatives run by women.
