The Minerals and Miners Center (MMC) has emphasized the need for safety training in mining communities across Nigeria.
Director of MMC, Dr Comfort Asokoro – Ogaji, during an interactive session on International Women’s Day on Friday, featuring Kogi Women Miners Welfare Association, expressed shock and sadness at the level of risk women miners are exposed to in the course of seeking their means of daily livelihood.
She expressed concern over the need to feed and pay school fees by these women which have pushed the rural women miners to the mining pits unprepared, unguarded and exposed to extortion and other poor working conditions.
During the miners meeting held to mark the international women’s day with representatives from Nigeria, Tanzania, Mali, South Africa and other African countries, Dr Asokoro called on women to support other women in the field by providing mentorship opportunities and most especially safety trainings at the grassroots.
She noted that women form the majority workforce in many states in Nigeria and should get the attention required in policy formulation processes.
Amongst key recommendations discussed at the meeting, MMC called on countries in Africa to enact mining laws and economic policies that are gender-inclusive continuously. She harped on the need to advance women’s social protection at the mine and home, which she noted has also become very urgent.
Emphasis was also placed on the need to account for gendered differences in occupational health and safety efforts at mine sites.
“Capacity building is key to growth. African women are urged to build capacities in their areas of interest in the commodity value chain. Women in the sector should strive for the top through capacity building and change their mindset to think growth and expansion in the commodity value chain and relevant extension services,” she said.
A key recommendation was that African women should collaborate and consider having corporate partnerships for solid minerals processing and export corporations being a capital intensive venture.
Looking in the Academia angle, universities should collaborate with the MMC to create centres of excellence across the continent for innovations and capacity building.
The climax of the event was the presentation of a “Gold LifeSaving Award” to the Kogi Women Miners Welfare Association Leader, Mrs Janet Ojoru Ahiaba, for her service to humanity regarding the Kogi Women Miners and for depositing her car at the hospital for the women who survived an accident to get treated.
In her acceptance speech, Mrs Ahiaba expressed appreciation for the award and promised to do more. The MMC Director in a speech, called on well meaning Nigerians to work with the Kogi women miners to do more most especially at state and local government levels.
The Centre also released related images in commemoration of International Women’s Day (March 8, 2024) to sensitize off takers of mineral ores on the need to ensure responsible mineral sourcing practices in rural and urban areas in Nigeria.
