The Nigerian Society of Economic Geologists (NSEG) and the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) have called for technology-driven mineral exploration, increased investment and local processing of mineral resources to unlock Nigeria’s mineral wealth and accelerate economic diversification.
The presidents of the two professional bodies made the call at the 5th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the NSEG in Kaduna, where they stressed the need to move beyond the country’s geological potential to the systematic discovery, evaluation and development of commercially viable mineral deposits.
The conference, held from October 18 to 21, 2026, has the theme, “Unlocking the Earth’s Mineral Potential: Innovation and Discovery for Future Resources.”
The NSEG president, Prof Samuel Olobaniyi said Nigeria needed reliable geological information, improved exploration techniques and responsible resource development to transform its mineral endowment into sustainable economic benefits.
He noted that economic geologists played a critical role in the mineral development value chain through their understanding of geological processes, geochemistry, geophysics, structural controls and ore-forming mechanisms, which provide the scientific foundation for viable mineral projects.
He said, “Nigeria must move from possessing mineral potential to systematically discovering, proving, developing and adding value to its mineral resources. Economic geologists must remain at the forefront of this transformation.”
According to him, the country must avoid an approach driven solely by market excitement and instead establish reliable geological knowledge, delineate resources to appropriate standards and develop transparent, environmentally responsible pathways for mineral production and value addition.
He added that Nigeria’s ambition should extend beyond exporting unprocessed minerals to developing the technical capacity, infrastructure, skilled workforce and industrial partnerships required to retain more value within the domestic economy.
The NSEG president said the conference was expected to strengthen predictive geological models, improve exploration efficiency, provide more reliable mineral inventories and support better-informed investment decisions.
In her goodwill message, the President of NMGS, Ms Rose Chundung Ndong, said the existence of mineral deposits alone could not guarantee economic development, stressing that the quality of geological data, modern exploration techniques, adequate investment and a supportive policy environment were essential to converting mineral resources into national prosperity.
She identified remote sensing, geographic information systems, advanced geophysical methods, digital geological databases, data-driven exploration models and artificial intelligence as technologies that could improve the accuracy, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of mineral discovery.
Ndong also called for stronger indigenous research capacity to ensure that scientific discoveries translated into tangible economic and social benefits for Nigerian communities.
She reaffirmed the NMGS’s commitment to working with the NSEG, academic institutions, government agencies and private-sector stakeholders to promote joint research, professional training, technical workshops, mentorship and geological data sharing.
Ndong, who was represented by the National Vice President of the NMGS, Dr. Matthew Oyedokun further stressed the need to develop young geoscientists through skills acquisition, research collaboration, industry exposure and mentorship, noting that the future of the sector depended on competent, innovative, ethical and globally competitive professionals.
Both professional bodies also emphasised the importance of environmental protection, community engagement, occupational safety and social responsibility in mineral exploration and development.
Ndong said Nigeria needed to invest in credible geological information, encourage exploration financing, promote local value addition and strengthen institutional capacity as it sought to improve its position in the global critical minerals value chain.
She urged participants to use the conference to develop practical recommendations, establish strategic partnerships and identify innovative approaches to mineral exploration and sustainable resource development.
The NSEG president highlighted the society’s achievements over the past year, including the inauguration of its Ibadan and Abuja zonal chapters on May 1 and June 11, 2026, respectively, to expand its professional activities and strengthen engagement among members.
He also announced the completion of the first volume of the Bulletin of Economic Geology, the society’s official journal, which is expected to be published online shortly.
Another milestone was the society’s collaboration with the NMGS and other professional bodies to organise the 10th Short Course on African Metallogeny of the Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits in Ibadan.
The NSEG president said the initiatives would promote professional interaction, facilitate knowledge transfer and strengthen technical capacity in mineral exploration.
He also congratulated the recipients of the society’s Fellowship and Honorary Fellowship awards, urging them to contribute to professional excellence and mentor younger geoscientists.
The society acknowledged the support of its sponsors and partners, including the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Juggernaut Industries Ltd, Triacta Nigeria Ltd, the National Steel Raw Materials Exploration Agency, Etazuma Mining and Industries Ltd, Duwan Company Ltd, Titan Minerals Ltd and the NMGS.
The conference is expected to strengthen collaboration among geologists, researchers, government institutions and industry players in developing practical solutions to the challenges of mineral exploration and responsible mining in Nigeria.
