Promoting Gender Equality in Nigeria’s Mining and Steel Sector
In a recent development, the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has unveiled the gender strategy document for Nigeria’s mining and steel sector, in conjunction with the launch of the Women In Mining In Nigeria (WIMIN) strategy document. This action has been widely celebrated as a significant achievement, demonstrating the strong commitment of the Ministries of Solid Minerals Development and Steel Development to promoting diversity.
The strategy has been meticulously crafted to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, with a specific emphasis on enhancing productivity for sustainable national development. It encompasses gender equality and women’s empowerment at every level – policy, regulatory, operational, and commercial, spanning large scale, medium scale, small scale, and artisanal roles, as well as value and supply chain functions.
Dr Alake emphasized that the strategy functions as a comprehensive plan for stakeholders to create a more inclusive and gender-balanced mining and steel sector. It offers guidance on integrating gender equality priorities into policies, programs, and initiatives. The significance of recognizing women’s indispensable contributions to the success and sustainability of the mining sector was also underscored, alongside the imperative to address biases against women in these sectors.
Concerted efforts have been made to prioritize gender mainstreaming in the sector, aligned with the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to gender equity as outlined in the ‘Roadmap for the Growth and Development of the Nigerian Mining Industry’. Furthermore, strategies have been outlined to bolster institutional capacity for effective gender mainstreaming and elevate women’s participation in leadership and governance roles within the mining sector and communities.
It was reaffirmed that promoting women’s economic empowerment and rights is paramount, alongside the imperative to eliminate barriers that hinder their meaningful participation and access to mining resources and benefits. Dr Alake also emphasized the commitment to forging partnerships across various stakeholders to realize the vision of the strategy, asserting that the WIMIN strategy is firmly grounded in the principles of equality, diversity, and empowerment.
The National President of WIMIN, Dr Janet Adeyemi, characterized the launch of the strategy as an opportunity to rally support and implement measures to address entrenched gender disparities within the mining and steel sectors. The Permanent Secretary of MSMD, Dr Mary Ogbe, urged women to serve as agents of change at all levels and advocated for organizations to appoint gender focal persons to coordinate related matters. This initiative represents a positive step towards achieving gender equality and empowering women in Nigeria’s mining and steel sector.
Source:
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) – www.nannews.ng
