Addressing Gender Disparities in the Mining Industry
The unveiling of the Women in Mining in Nigeria strategy document by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, marks a crucial milestone in the sector, demonstrating the dedication of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and the Ministry of Steel Development to advancing diversity.
This strategy is designed to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women, with a specific focus on enhancing productivity for the sustainable development of the nation. It seeks to enhance opportunities for women in various areas, including policy, regulatory, and operational roles, and to integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment priorities into various policies, programmes, and initiatives.
Despite acknowledging the significant contributions of women to the success and sustainability of the mining sector, the minister highlighted the biases and obstacles that women face in both the mining and steel industries. Consequently, the federal government has prioritized gender equity and female participation in its roadmap for the growth and development of the Nigerian mining industry.
To accomplish the objectives of the gender strategy, institutional capacity will be bolstered to effectively incorporate gender considerations. Moreover, the strategy will strive to enhance women’s involvement in leadership and governance roles within the mining sector and its surrounding communities.
The minister emphasized the importance of promoting women’s economic empowerment, rights, and eliminating barriers that hinder their participation. Crucially, the strategy is grounded in the principles of equality, diversity, and empowerment, truly embodying a call to action for stakeholders to commit to a more inclusive and gender-balanced industry.
During the event, Dr Janet Adeyemi, the national president of Women in Mining (WIMIN), expressed the view that the launch of the strategy represents an important opportunity to address the entrenched gender disparities within the mining and steel sectors. She highlighted the multifaceted barriers that women continue to encounter in these industries and the need for action to address them.
Further contributing to the discussions, the permanent secretary of MSMD, Dr Mary Ogbe, urged women to be agents of change at all levels and called for organisations to appoint gender focal persons to coordinate related matters.
The commitment to addressing gender disparities and promoting a more inclusive and balanced mining and steel industry is evident in this strategy, which aims to empower women and foster diversity. The implementation of this blueprint marks a significant step towards a more equitable and thriving future for the mining sector in Nigeria.
