The Students Representative Council of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABUSRC) has conferred the Sir Ahmadu Bello Platinum Leadership Award of ‘National Icon of Mining Transformation’ on the Director-General, Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Engr. Obadiah Simon Nkom for his outstanding contribution to the development of mining and education, while charging the awarded to initiate new strategies that will curb illegal mining activities in the country.
Head of Media, MCO, Sade Fatoke The Team Leader, ABUSRC, Mubarak Usman Jiddu, who described the awarded as “the pride of our generation,” called on the agency to evolve a Task Force to look into the activities of illegal mining in order to curb revenue leakages and ensure orderly development of the sector.
The student body, which further inducted the Director General into the ABUSRC Hall of Fame, said his role in the ongoing repositioning of the Office and sector, endears him to upcoming professionals as a mentor.
The Team Leader of ABUSRC, Mubarak Usman Jiddu commended the roles played by Engr. Nkom in the transformation of MCO to an online based system and his passion for educational development in tertiary institution such as Nasarawa State University among others.
According to the Team Leader, “students are stakeholder in the Nigerian project and the development of the economy,” adding that Engr Simon Nkom earned the honor in the mining sector category of awardees.
Jiddu described the Director General as having the good fortune of ensuring diligent implementation of the on-going mining sector reforms especially as it concerns the mineral licensing agency. He said the digitalization of the cadastre operations of the MCO in partnership with the World Bank will transform mineral title administration in the country, as the MCO operations will be become web-based. This, he said would win more confidence for the Office and sector as it will guarantee accountability and transparency.
The Director Concession, MCO, Mr. Ahmed Damagum, who earlier represented and received the award on behalf of the Director General, explained that the transformation to a web-based system will make MCO compliant with international best practices in cadastre administration.
He thanked the student body for the honour, and assured that the Office will work to achieve set goals.
The Management Staff of the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office attended the induction ceremony at the head office, in Abuja.
