The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, made the call at the inauguration of the maiden Post-NYSC Graduate Youth Knowledge Empowerment and Capacity-Building Programme in Abuja. The programme aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge acquired in universities and the practical skills required by the mining industry. Dr. Alake noted that Nigeria's solid minerals deposits offer opportunities for economic diversification, industrialisation, job creation, and increased revenue.
Dr. Alake urged participants to acquire practical skills in geological mapping, mineral exploration, geophysical and geochemical investigations, remote sensing, Geographic Information Systems, laboratory analysis, and digital technology. He also encouraged the graduates to explore business opportunities in mineral testing, exploration support services, mineral processing, environmental consultancy, and mining technology rather than depend solely on conventional employment.
The Director-General of NGSA, Professor Olusegun Ige, said the programme was designed to equip young geoscience graduates with industry-driven skills and improve their professional competence and employability. The agency received nearly 500 applications but selected a limited number due to resource constraints, ensuring representation across the six geopolitical zones.
Professor Ige explained that the programme was conceived to address the shortage of practical exposure experienced by geology graduates during their university education. Experienced NGSA professionals would serve as facilitators, providing participants with hands-on experience and expertise. The Director-General also highlighted the agency's previous capacity-building efforts, including the recognition of outstanding university research projects.
A former NGSA Director-General, Alex Nduibisi, described the initiative as timely, noting that inadequate practical facilities in some universities had created a gap between academic training and industry requirements. He urged the agency to increase the number of beneficiaries in subsequent editions. The Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Simon Nkom, commended the initiative and called for its extension to mining engineering graduates.
The programme has garnered support from various stakeholders, including the Vice-Chancellor of Nasarawa State University, Keffi, who expressed support for the programme and called for sustained collaboration between the university and NGSA. The trainees' representative, Yakubu Nana, appreciated the agency for the opportunity, pledging that the graduates would use the practical knowledge acquired to contribute to the development of Nigeria's solid minerals sector.
The Federal Government's call for the expansion of the programme is expected to create more employment opportunities for young graduates and contribute to the growth of Nigeria's solid minerals industry. The programme is a step towards addressing the skills gap in the industry and unlocking the country's mineral resources for economic development.
Key points
- The programme aims to equip young geoscience graduates with industry-driven skills and improve their professional competence and employability.
- The agency received nearly 500 applications but selected a limited number due to resource constraints.
- The programme has garnered support from various stakeholders, including university officials and industry experts.
