Convened by Women in Mining In Nigeria (WIMIN) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and other local and international institutional partners, the 2023 edition of the Gold and Gemstones Conference and Exhibition which held in Lagos from September 26 to 28, was a major boost for development of the gemstone resources of Africa.
The conference attracted the participation of twelve African countries as well as the African Minerals Development Center (AMDC) of the African Union (AU).
National President, WIMIN, Engr. Janet Adeyemi who described the event as ‘a convergence of who is who in the gold and gem industry,’ said discussants evolved strategies that will help to expand the trade and skill frontiers in relation to the gemstone resources of the African continent.
She thanked the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake and the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary Ogbe for their support, as well as the Director-General of the Nigerian Mining Cadastre Office, Engr. O. S. Nkom.
Engr. Adeyemi, who is a Fellow of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS), also acknowledged the support of the Director-General of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA), Dr. Abdulrazaq Garba, the Nigerian Export Import (NEXIM) bank, First Bank Plc, and other sponsors and donors who shared the vision of the organization, supported the conference and made it a success.
As part of the ceremony, the Girls for Mining (G4M) club was launched with over fifty students from Chrisland and Bowen Colleges in attendance.
The students were exposed to various opportunities in the industry.
The launching of the G4M club culminated into a career talk anchored by International Women in Mining leaders led by Ms Tosrbella Osei from Ghana, and Mrs Olusola Olaniyi, an Advisory Board Member of WIMIN.
