NEPC moves to bridge competence gaps of miners in Delta, calls for a shft to value addition

…Urges them to explore opportunities to develop the economy

…We want the mining sector to compete with other sectors

In a move to bridge competence gaps of miners in Delta State, the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has engaged stakeholders in the mining sector, advocating for a shift from exportation of raw solid minerals to value addition in the value chain,

NEPC said this would help exporters in the mining sector penetrate global market and contribute to the growth of Nigeria’s economy.

At a one day workshop organized in Asaba, Tuesday, by the NEPC, the council threw a challenge to exporters in the mining sector, to go beyond mere extraction of the mineral resources, noting that the value lies in the entire value chain; processing, manufacturing and innovation.

Nonye Ayeni, the managing director and chief executive officer (MD/CEO) of the NEPC, Abuja, threw the challenge, in her keynote address delivered at the workshop organized for stakeholders in the mining sector of Delta State, with the theme, “Strategic Roadmap for Critical and Rare Earth Minerals Export Development”.

Ayeni who was represented by Peter Onokpasa, the Coordinator, Delta State NEPC Coordinating Office, revealed that Delta State is blessed with vast deposit of gold, tantalite, columbite, cassiterite, lithium-bearing minerals, kaolin, feldspar talc, marble, granite, silica sand, iron ore to mention a few.

She explained that the minerals present enormous opportunities for domestic industrialization and export expansion but said that the true wealth of those resources lies not in extraction alone but in processing, beneficiation and value addition.

She stated that the minerals position Delta State as a critical contributor to Nigeria’s solid minerals export drive but noted that despite the potentials, the sector was faced with numerous challenges, including informal activities, lack of funding, inadequate mining technology, lack of quality and standards, insufficient geological data, capacity building, to mention a few.

She also noted the mandate of the council in promoting the development and diversification of Nigeria’s export trade, and declared, “Today’s engagement is a critical step in the process as it provides a platform for the stakeholders to come together, share ideas and encourage processors on the need for value addition along the value chain through cluster mechanism.

The council recognizes the contributions of the solid minerals sector to non-oil exports portfolio and the tremendous opportunities on achieving greater economic potentials through the intervention, she said.

She urged all stakeholders to take advantage of the event to tap and gain insights and equip themselves with the understanding of cluster processes to accelerate the growth of their businesses, which she said would translate to the growth of the sector.

In his goodwill message, Eromole Dide, the permanent secretary Delta State Ministry of Trade and Investments and chairman of the state committee on export (SCEP), represented by Felix Oseji, the director of commerce, noted that globally, demand for rare earth minerals is surging, driven by electric vehicles, clean energy solutions and advanced technologies and urged that Nigeria rise to meet the demand rather than remain spectators while others real the benefits of the potential.

This, he said requires strategy more than ambition – moving beyond mere extraction as the real value lies in the entire value chain; processing, manufacturing and innovation.

He called for collective and desicive action – building strong, investor-friendly policies, prioritize infrastructure, invest in people, ensure security and stability, creating safe environments for investment and growth. Most importantly, we must embrace sustainability, ensuring that development today does not compromise the future of tomorrow, he said.

He equally called for partnership between the public and private sectors, between local Communities and global investors, between vision and action even as he described the workshop as a more coordinated effort to unlock the immense potential of the state’s mineral resources.

Oyinka Duke of Solid Minerals Directorate in NEPC, Abuja, in her paper presentation, expressed hope that the mining sector would begin to compete with other sectors like agriculture in terms of value addition in value chain

Kenneth Odita, chairman, Nigerian Association of Miners, Delta State chapter, in an interview with BusinessDay, described the programme as a good initiative that would equip mining operators with required knowledge. I have involved my people to participate in this programme and they are being linked to the NEPC to register for greater results.