Africa holds vast deposits of precious minerals, yet the continent struggles to fully benefit from its mineral wealth due to significant challenges. These issues were highlighted during the 3rd Annual Gold and Gemstone Conference, held from 26-28 September 2024 in Lagos, Nigeria.
The event was organised by Women in Mining in Nigeria (WIMIN), a non-governmental organisation dedicated to advancing the interests of women in the mining sector.
Dr. Janet Adeyemi, President of WIMIN, called for a unified approach to address the systemic issues hindering progress within the industry. She expressed concerns about the bureaucratic hurdles that complicate travel and collaboration across African nations.
“The ultimate idea of the conference is to bring all stakeholders together, where we can identify ourselves and remove the middle men. And ensure that gemstones that God has blessed us with ultimately creates wealth for Africans for the development of Africa, to bridge the infrastructural gap in Africa and make sure that our index level in terms of wealth increases,” Dr. Adeyemi stated.
“When we talk about the African Continental Free Trade Area, we need to consider the movement of people. Some of our members who were supposed to arrive on the 23rd only made it last night due to visa issues, restrictions, and hostility between African countries towards fellow Africans. These problems must be addressed. Funding is another major challenge. The government needs to step in, especially with security in the mines. If they can put security measures in place, it would make a significant difference,” Dr. Adeyemi further explained.
Discussions also revolved around innovative solutions for overcoming these hurdles and adding value to the mining industry.
“Our mandate is to ensure minerals lead to sustainable development and inclusive growth. We examine the entire value chain of minerals, not just gemstones, and address them from a governance, policy, and value addition perspective. This includes artisanal and small-scale mining, as well as capacity building,” stated Marit Kitaw, Interim Director of the African Mineral Development Centre.
One of the event organisers highlighted plans for equipment lease financing to empower young people with skills and allow mass production of jewellery in Nigeria.
“We’re aiming to produce jewellery not just on the high end but also affordable, custom-made pieces. This year, a key theme is the fusion of fashion and jewellery, with everything made in Nigeria,” they said.
The annual conference continues to serve as a platform for educating miners and the general public on value addition and capacity-building within the mining sector.
