Federal Government’s Commitment to Empower Women in the Mining Sector
The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared its devoted commitment to providing women with opportunities to occupy leadership positions within the governance structures of the country’s mining sector. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has stated that this forms part of the government’s initiative to endorse inclusivity and to bolster the overall sustainability of the mining industry.
At the unveiling of the Gender Strategy for Women in Nigerian Mining and Steel sectors in Abuja, Minister Alake underscored the significance of advancing gender equality as both a moral imperative and a strategic decision. He underlined the initiative as a pivotal measure towards driving innovation, improving productivity, and contributing to the sustainable progress of the nation.
The Minister further stressed the crucial role of women in the success and sustainability of the mining sector, acknowledging their essential impact on the development of the nation. He reiterated the government’s dedication to fostering diversity and enabling the advancement of women through the implementation of its roadmap initiative.
In alignment with this resolution, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and Ministry of Steel Development have engaged a consultancy firm to devise the gender strategy. The objective of this strategy is to augment women’s involvement in leadership and governance roles within both the mining sector and local communities.
The introduction of the Gender Strategy for Women in Nigerian Mining and Steel sectors was hailed by the National President of Women In Mining In Nigeria (WIMIN) as a beacon of hope and a rallying call for collective action and solidarity. It serves as a platform to disseminate transformative strategies, mobilize stakeholders, and activate a movement towards substantial change.
Dr. Mary Ogbe, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministries of Solid Minerals Development and Steel Development, underscored the crucial nature of effectively implementing the gender strategy to ensure an equitable and all-encompassing mining sector.
Furthermore, Engineer Sellim Salam, the Project Coordinator of the Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (MinDiver), accentuated the importance of engaging a consultancy firm to conduct a gender study and to formulate a strategy to uplift the benefits and mainstreaming of women in the sector.
The government’s initiative to enable women for leadership positions in the mining sector is a positive stride towards achieving gender equality and promoting diversity. It stands as evidence of the unyielding commitment of the administration to foster the participation of women in governance roles, and ultimately to contribute to the sustainable development of the country.
