NMGS plays major role in shaping mineral development policies —President
By Martha Agas
The Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), says it plays a major role in shaping the policy direction of mineral development in the country.
NMGS President, Prof. Akinade Olatunji, stated this on Friday in Abuja, during a news conference ahead the society’s 60th Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE).
According to Olatunji, the society’s members, are experts in their fields, who use the organisation’s various platforms to discuss innovations, global issues, trends, research, and sector potentials to drive its development.
He said that the outcomes of their conferences, captured in their communiqués, aim to drive conversations in the sector to reposition it.
“The society’s communiqués are usually grounded in research and developed based on identified national needs in specific sectors.
“Where the government has been receptive, these communiqués have led to policy changes, which have led to better sector organisation,” he said.
He recalled that at the 59th AICE, emphasis was placed on the need for economic diversification and value addition to minerals, particularly ending the export of raw minerals.
According to the president, the government has since established strong policies and taken concrete steps to promote value addition along the solid minerals value chain.
He said that these steps indicated that the government listens to the society and recognises the merits of its suggestions.
He added that the NMGS is a statutory member of some agencies such as the Nigeria Geological Survey Agency and Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria due to the importance placed on the organisation.
The president expressed confidence that the outcome of the 60th AICE, themed: “Transformation of the Mineral, Energy, Water, and Construction Sectors through Innovations,’’ would lead to the modification of old practices in the sector.
He added that it would also promote new approaches and reinforce Nigerians’ recognition of the geoscience and mining profession’s vital role in national development.
According to Olatunji, one of the sub-themes of the conference is: “Maximising the Benefits of the Nigerian Water Resources,” which will x-ray how to address the collapse of the urban water supply.
He stated that the resilience of urban centers amid water shocks, particularly the increasing number of household boreholes, would be discussed.
The society’s President maintained that the conference aimed to reawaken national awareness of the vital role which professionals in NMGS play in achieving meaningful development.
“The importance of utilising the tools and solutions from the fields would be on full display at this conference.
“We will be using the conference to urge the Nigerian public to appreciate the need to utilise these available resources in solving developmental challenges in the various sectors identified.
“Experts from the energy, solid minerals, oil and gas, construction, water, environment and agriculture sectors are going to be making presentations on cutting edge solutions to the challenges in these sectors.
“Academics will be presenting their research findings on the various themes and sub-themes.
“The Nigerian nation is looking for solutions and ways to solve the challenges confronted in these sectors; what we are saying as NMGS is that these solutions are here with us,” he said.
Olatunji said there will be sessions for young professionals, female colleagues, and students competing for a one million naira prize in the quiz competition, with no fewer than 35 higher institutions attending the conference.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conference would commence from Feb 16 to 21.
Sub-themes to be discussed include Resource Management and Value Addition in the Minerals and Mining Sector; Managing Emerging Realities in the Nigerian Oil and Gas Sector.
“The Role of Geoscience in Agriculture and Food Security, among other sub-themes, are also slated for discussion.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Mark Longyen
Published By
- Senior Editor
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