The Minerals and Miners Center, MNC, has called on federal government to provide safety training at the mining communities across Nigeria.
Director of the Center, Dr Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji made the call while featuring Kogi women miners’ welfare association at the international women’s day celebration.
She expressed shock and sadness at the risky manner the women miners seek means of livelihood.
“The need to feed and pay the meagre school fees have pushed rural women miners to the mining pits unprepared, unguarded and exposed to extortion and poor working conditions” she emphasized.
Dr Asokoro called on women to support other women in the field by providing mentorship opportunities especially safety trainings for those at the grassroots.
“Women form the majority workforce in many states in Nigeria and should get the attention required in policy formulation processes” she stressed.
The MMC director also called on Africa countries to Make mining laws and economic policies gender-inclusive continuously.
“The need to advance women’s social protection at the mine and home has also become very urgent and emphasis should also be placed on the need to account for gendered differences in occupational health and safety efforts at mine sites” Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji noted.
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 mindsets to think growth and expansion in the commodity value chain and relevant extension services”
The MNC Director appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to work with the Kogi women miners to enable them more most especially at state and local government levels stressing that African women should collaborate and consider having corporate partnerships for solid minerals processing and export corporations for 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 Saving Award” to the Kogi Women Miners Welfare Association Leader, Mrs Janet Ahiaba for her service to humanity by depositing her car at the hospital for the women who survived the accident to get treated.
In her acceptance speech, Mrs Ahiaba expressed appreciation for the award and promised to do more.
The Centre also released related images in commemoration of International Women’s Day to sensitize off takers of mineral ores on the need to ensure responsible mineral sourcing practices in rural and urban areas in Nigeria.
