The FCT Chapter of Women in Mining Nigeria (WIM) has convened its maiden strategy session that evaluated the immediate scope of task before the chapter, just as it hailed the Founder and National President of the association, Engr. Janet Adeyemi for her vision and dogged pursuit for the realization of set goals, a virtue the chapter said was pivotal to the expansion of the association.
It could be recalled that the FCT Chapter was recently inaugurated in Abuja, during which the Managing Director of Richflood Minerals, Dr. Comfort Asokoro Ogaji emerged the Coordinator of the chapter.
A statement from the Chapter made available to our correspondent in Abuja at the weekend said it is set to commence operations, adding that the committee members have deliberated on the vision, mission and goals of WIM. The group also strategized on how best to maximize the contribution of the FCT Chapter to the realization of the goals of the 28 chapter body.
The statement said: ‘The Coordinator, Dr Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji commends the President, Engr. Dr. Janet Adeyemi for the vision and enormous impact she has made on women via Women in Mining platform,’ adding that the two-hour long meeting culminated in the specific direction to take and potential impact the FCT Chapter can have on the highly placed women in the boardrooms and on women in rural mining communities.
The Coordinator said women are blessed by God and will continue to give back to the society from the blessings, adding that Adeyemi exemplifies the concept of ‘women helping women to rise.’
She explained that membership drive is top on the agenda. ‘Membership will be extended to women in high positions of government, owners and managers of reputable private sector led firms, women involved in export and importation of minerals, gemstones, mining machinery and other commodities are expected to join in the next few weeks as members of WIM,’ the statement said.
While saying that the chapter is working in harmony with the national office, the Coordinator disclosed that the FCT Chapter has conceptualized some projects and still working on others, adding that the projects will boost the economic status of members engaged in the business of mining.
The Coordinator, who expressed optimism that the projects will contribute to the federal government’s revenue profile from the solid minerals sector, assured that it will reposition mining businesses that are led by women, and place them on the global map of successful enterprises.
Discussing the enormous capacity of women to champion great causes, Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji said: ‘We are intellectuals, experts, business moguls and we know what women want, what we need and how to go about it, and we are willing to help other women,’
She said in addition to mega business ventures, the Chapter is still mapping out additional strategies for the rural women and children in mining in the FCT. ‘Once we conclude on the approach, we will spring into action on this,’ she added.
She said membership is currently open to all women who are interested, stating that women who desire to boost their income levels are encouraged to join.
Women who are resident in Abuja can be members of the FCT Chapter, she said, adding that Directors General, Managing Directors, Chief Executives, business owners, accountants, business administrators, wives of governors, engineers, lawyers, Info-Tech specialists, surveyors, geologists, councilors, Local Government executives, procurement specialists and any other experts or politically inclined women who are interested in the solid minerals sector are welcome.
When asked if men can join, Dr. Asokoro answered in the affirmative, saying: ‘Yes we welcome men to support us as members.’
She said: ‘In addition to working with women as members, WIM ambassadors would highly placed men helping women to make impact in the field,’ adding that the association is delighted to have such men who are committed to supporting WIM.
The Coordinator stated: ‘We are glad to have them, and we need our men, lovely and supportive darling husbands, brothers, sons and experts to join us in our efforts to play vitals roles in the development of the mining sector for national economic diversification,’ she said, adding that the society will become better by the programs of WIM.
