Women for Women International, Zamfara State Chapter, has congratulated the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Hajiya Fatima Umaru Shinkafi, on her election as an Honorary Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Economic Geologists (NSEG).
The NSEG, a specialists group recognised by the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) bestowed the honor on the Executive Secretary during the Opening Ceremony of its 5th Annual General Meeting in Kaduna on Monday.
In a statement, the Chairperson, Zamfara State Chapter of Women-For-Women, Hajiya Luba Lawal Ammani, described Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi as a woman of uncommon strength whose intellect, patriotism and ability to mobilise human and financial resources has enabled Nigeria to achieve several milestones in the mining sector.
“We are women and we are very proud of her,” the group said, citing the launch of the SMDF Early-Stage Mineral Exploration and Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE) initiative and a $1.3 billion investment agreement between the Federal Government and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) for an alumina refinery and nationwide mineral exploration.
The group said Shinkafi had made significant contributions to Nigeria’s mining industry by pursuing initiatives to address longstanding funding constraints and promote exploration, research, capacity building and investment.
It described the EMERGE initiative as a landmark intervention designed to provide financial support to different segments of the mining value chain.
“The commitment of the SMDF to address the longstanding challenges of funding through its SMDF-EMERGE Initiative is the first of its kind in the Nigerian mining sector,” the statement said.
According to the group, the initiative targets funding gaps affecting mineral exploration, research and development, academic institutions, geologists and mining education programmes.
It said the programme could help bridge the gap between academic research and practical mining operations, strengthen indigenous expertise and prepare the sector for emerging technological and operational demands.
The initiative is also expected to improve local mining companies’ access to the equipment, technology and technical expertise required for efficient, mechanised operations.
With improved access to financing and technical support, the group said, indigenous operators could expand production, improve productivity, and compete more effectively with international mining companies.
It added that the initiative could help address structural disadvantages confronting local operators while laying the foundation for a more competitive domestic mining industry.
The congratulatory message also highlighted the reported $1.3 billion investment agreement between the Federal Government and the AFC, facilitated through the SMDF, as a significant step towards expanding Nigeria’s mineral exploration and processing capacity.
The proposed investment covers the establishment of an alumina refinery and nationwide mineral exploration, which could improve geological data, support local mineral processing and attract further investment into the sector.
The group noted that domestic processing could create opportunities for value addition, reducing Nigeria’s reliance on exporting unprocessed mineral resources.
It also emphasised the importance of mobilising long-term public and private capital for exploration and mining infrastructure, given the substantial investment required before mineral deposits become commercially viable.
According to the statement, the SMDF under Shinkafi had pursued partnerships and financing arrangements to expand the fund’s capacity to support exploration, research, local mining enterprises and other strategic interventions.
The group also welcomed efforts to strengthen the fund’s financing framework through partnerships and government budgetary allocations, noting that sustainable funding was essential to the development of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
Beyond financing and investment mobilisation, Women for Women International commended Shinkafi’s commitment to women’s empowerment and sustainable mineral development, particularly in Zamfara State, where mining remains an important economic activity.
It said greater participation by women in the sector, including in leadership, technical professions, research and enterprise development, was important to achieving inclusive growth.
The group added that Shinkafi’s NSEG fellowship underscored the importance of geological expertise, research and financing in developing a commercially viable mining industry.
It concluded by commending her leadership and commitment to advancing Nigeria’s solid minerals sector and promoting women’s empowerment.
