The Minerals and Miners Centre (MMC) has begun negotiations with Mineral processing experts and Machinery Manufacturers in London after the Minerals and Miners Conference that took place along side the Mines and Money Event.
In a recent interview with the Director MMC, Dr Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji in London, she emphasized that: “the concept of the MMC is to contribute to the ongoing efforts by other stakeholders to ensure home based junior mining companies and artisanal miners get involved directly in mineral processing operations and get trained in the process through the mentorship and internship program that is ongoing for the year. The MMC models are private sector driven and embraces a sustainable approach to the sector activities through skills transfer from partners and sector experts.
“By the grace of God, MMC will be in China in few months time to execute agreements with machinery manufacturers. The terms are pro-Africa based on our models at MMC.
“The mentorship and internship program of MMC is intended to bridge the skills gap in the solid minerals sector. Industrialization is the fastest way to wealth and global relevance. Mineral beneficiation in-country is a winning approach as against importation of Human Resources or exportation of Natural Resources. No country develops by exporting its raw commodities. That’s the gateway to poverty and mediocrity. Export of value added products is a highway to wealth creation and we must continuously look inwards and build capacities in this direction both at leadership level, managerial and operational levels,” she explained.
Dr Asokoro-Ogaji added that, “The private sector remains the engine of economic growth as captured in the developmental policies and plans of Nigeria. We are driving the process riding on the enabling environment provided by the federal government ministries, agencies and the state governments.
“The MMC approach is sensitive to social and environmental factors while ensuring economic goals are met for the companies and state governments we are working with.”
She emphasised that “The concept of sustainability is a must for all stakeholders working with us because it is not just the right thing to do but it is a responsible way to do things. Standard environmental and social procedural templates are already introduced accross the value addition processes and supply chain programs while ensuring positive economic impact.
“The companies we are working with are African owned and run by Africans with the support of experts from the United Kingdom and China in the area of machinery expertise, technical expertise, Environmental, Social and corporate Governance (ESG) standards and general peer review and advisory services culminating in commercial scale mineral processing operations.
“The overall goal is to see more Nigerian involvement via employment generation, improved indigenous expertise for mineral processing and understanding global mineral trade dynamics.”
Speaking on the part state governments are meant to play, she noted that “In view of the crucial importance of State Governments in the development of the solid mineral resources in respective states across the country, MMC is working with few committed state governments towards value addition that will improve the sector.”
