Solid Minerals Development Fund Empowers 1,000 Women

The Solid Minerals Development Fund, SMDF, has kicked off a programme to empower one thousand women in Jewellery Making in the mining sector.

The Executive Secretary of SMDF, Hajia Fatima Shinkafi, who stated this during the training in Lagos stressed that it would creat multiple opportunities for Nigerian women in the utilization of Gemstone products across the value chain through structured training programmes.

Shinkafi explained that the training on Gemstone and Jewellery is a gateway to economic independence, skill acquisition, and social empowerment for women in Nigerian communities.

“We are not just focused on training; we are committed to the continued growth of the trainees. The target is to train 1000 women, those who do basics can move on and be part of an advanced training. This training will offer them the opportunity to not only create beautiful jewelry but to also build thriving businesses” she said.

“Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) is fully committed to ensuring that training and acquisition of knowledge in the sector is sustainable and this explains why we are launching the training of 1000 young women from different parts of the country with 100 participants at this gemstone and jewellry making training”.

She said the exercise is aimed at planting the seeds of creativity, entrepreneurship and resilience which will yield lasting benefits for trainees, their families, and the society at large.

According to the Executive Secretary, Gemstones are among the most valuable natural resources found in the country adding that Nigeria is blessed with abundant precious stones, many of which remain untapped or under-utilized.

She promised to support the women with loans and grants to set up their own businesses so that they can turn what they have learnt into a successful enterprise.

Hajia Shinkafi who expressed appreciation to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake for his steadfast support towards advancing the Agency’s mandate highlighted the Minister’s dedication to women’s empowerment in the mining sector, emphasising the need to equip women with the essential skills to actively engage in the mining value chain.

The Executive Secretary commended the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration towards reducing Nigeria’s reliance on crude oil through economic diversification by harnessing the country’s rich solid mineral resources.

Earlier, the President of Nigeria Women in Mining, Janet Adeyemi, who was a House of Representatives’ Member emphazied that the training program which is the 3rd edition noted that women had over the years being empowered and supported to carry out mining activities and jewelry-making at the global level, being sources of inspiration to others.

She said the association has introduced various initiatives including pageants to make the sector more attractive for women.

Also speaking, Nigeria’s former Ambassador to the Philippines and Cambodia, Ambassador Folakemi Akinleye, said the training would go a long way in improving lives of rural women and open more opportunities in the mining sector which comes with huge investment and economic growth.

On her part, a former Director with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mrs. Tope Omage, described SMDF, involvement and intervention as a milestone and landmark intervention to improve income of women in Nigeria.

In his presentation, the programme facilitators, and a Geologist, Dr. Tersoo Aga, said Nigeria is most blessed when it comes to human and natural resources, and particularly for the solid mineral sector.

Some of the participants, Sola Adesanya, from Lagos State, Eden Durosola Precious,
Lagos, and Hajia Umar Abubarkar, Zamfara, expressed optimism that the training will help them to pursue new career opportunities in mining.

By Georgina Humphrey