Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has declared that the country cannot continue to be poor while it is blessed with such enormous wealth in mineral resources across its nooks and crannies.
Alake stated this in Abuja on Thursday when he spoke at the opening of the National Gemstone and Jewellery Show and the presentation of certificates to graduates of the MinDiver-sponsored gemstone and jewellery-making programme in Nigeria.
Alake stated the importance of the gemstone and jewelry-making industry in bringing wealth to Nigeria.
The minister, who presented the starter packs to the trainees of MinDiver skill acquisition programme in the jewelry and gemstone sub-sector of the mineral and metals industry, told them they were now equipped with the necessary skills to contribute to the growth of the sector.
Alake said: “There is no state in this country that has not got one type of solid mineral, be it gemstones, and other minerals. We have them all. So why Nigeria should be talking of poverty?
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“If we would have done the needful years and decades ago, if we had diverted our attention to this sector, it is capable of sustaining the Nigerian economy. But we didn’t, because we had oil and we had free flow of petrol dollars that shut our eyes to those critical sectors, like solid minerals, like the gemstone and jewellery, or like agriculture. But today we’re here because the nation can no longer solely rely on petro dollars.”
He noted that the world is moving away from fossil fuels and other energy sources that contribute significantly to global warming, to green energy sources, and this source is solid minerals which are critical to transiting the world into less suffocation by global warming.
In his speech, MinDiver project coordinator, Engr. Sallim Salaam said the occasion was meant to celebrate the artistry, craftsmanship and beauty of jewellery locally produced in Nigeria.
He also said the event provided an avenue for the graduates of jewellery-making and design to showcase their recently acquired skills and jewellery products.
“They are here to have the opportunity to interface with their seniors in the jewellery industry,” he said.
According to him, the exhibitors had worked tirelessly to showcase the most innovative jewellery products, the latest trends, techniques, and materials for participants.