Nigerian Govt disburses N142.6 million to 14 tertiary institutions for mining research

By Matthew Eloyi

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite, has disclosed that N142.6 million was shared among 14 tertiary institutions in Nigeria to conduct research on mineral deposits.

Adegbite disclosed this at the Stakeholders Validation Workshop on Research Collaboration with the beneficiary tertiary institutions on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the money was split among the recipients for research development in various areas linked to the mapping and appraisal of specific mineral reserves.

Mining Engineering, Metallurgy and Mineral Processing, Geological Mapping, Industrial and Minerals Utilization/Exports, and Energy Minerals are among the fields of research, according to him.

In his words, “You will all agree with me that without data, there can be no serious mining activities. Nigeria lacks adequate bankable Geosciences data needed to attract major mining companies to invest in the sector.’’

According to Adegbite, the programme which started in 2018 with 12 institutions as the first of its kind by the ministry is about to be finalised for the benefit of the sector.

The minister said various topics on which research was conducted and ready for validation include, Geological Mapping and Assessment of Metallic and Industrial Minerals in parts of North Central Nigeria namely FCT, Kaduna, Nasarawa and Niger States.

Others are: Provision of Optimum Blasting Parameters for Auchi-Igara Mineral District and Okene-Auchi Mineral District in Nigeria among others.

“We cannot overemphasise the importance of this validation, as without this event taking place today, the reports will remain a mere academic exercise and the intention will be defeated.

“We believe that at the end of this exercise, the value of these reports will begin to impact positively on the sector,’’ the Minister added.

The Chairman, Committee of Stakeholders Validation, Prof. Gbenga Okunola, said that the programme was collaboration between the MMSD and academia to increase the mineral data bank for the benefit of the nation.

The tertiary institutions that participated in the exercise are: Universities of Ibadan, Lagos, Jos, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nasarawa State University of Technology, Kaduna State Polytechnic, Kaduna, and Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida University, Lapai among others.