SMDF, NASD spotlight investment opportunities in solid minerals

Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) and NASD OTC Exchange Plc have teamed up to unveil an array of investment opportunities in the Nigerian Solid Minerals sector through a high-level webinar on July 30.

Themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Potentials Through The Capital Market”, the virtual event, scheduled to kick off a physical event later this year, marks a strategic collaboration between NASD Plc and SMDF to boost Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

A statement from NADS indicates that the solid minerals sector has huge potential for Nigeria’s economic growth, but many operators lack the technical know-how to raise capital through the capital market, and some are not aware of the opportunities in the sector.

The facilitators are Hajiya Fatima Umaru Shinkafi, Executive Secretary, SMDF; Bola Ajomale, Executive Commissioner for Operations, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC); Eguarekhide Longe, Managing Director, NASD; and Martins Imonitie, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Mining Corporation.

“This webinar is packaged to bridge the gap between policy insights and showcase investment-ready opportunities in the solid minerals value chain, highlight capital market funding for sustainable investments in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.

“It will also engage key stakeholders like regulators, operators, financiers, and developers on project financing, explore private-public sector partnerships for infrastructure equipment, and exploration investments, increase awareness of capital market instruments for mining activities, create a pipeline of opportunities for capital formation and project funding strengthen stakeholder collaboration between the capital market and mining ecosystem.

“ Participants expected at the webinar include mining companies, exploration firms, mineral asset owners, capital market operators, investment bankers, brokers, trustees, institutional investors, asset management firms, pension funds, regulators, and government agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Ministry of Mines and Steel Development”, according to the statement.

Iheanyi Nwachukwu

Iheanyi Nwachukwu, is a creative content writer with almost two decades journalism experience writing on banking, finance, capital markets, and tax. The multiple awards winning journalist is Assistant Editor, BusinessDay. Iheanyi holds BSc Degree in Economics from Imo State University; Master of Science (MSc) Degree in Management from University of Lagos. Iheanyi has attended several work-related trainings including (i) Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills (Pan African University, Lagos); (ii) News Agency Journalism (Indian Institute of Mass Communication {IIMC}, New Delhi, India); and (iii) Capital Markets Development and Regulations (International Law Institute {ILI} of Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA). Other trainings Iheanyi attended include: Economic/Political Risk Analysis (By Thomson Reuters Foundation); International Financial Journalism (IFJ) (By PMA Media Training, UK); Effective Business Writing Skills (By Phillips Consulting); Reporting on Corporate Governance (By International Finance Corporation (IFC) & Thomson Reuters Foundation UK); etc. In addition, he has participated in high-level economy & markets events in Dubai, South Africa, Morocco, and other African countries like Zambia, Ghana and Gambia.