The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake has admonished management staff of the Ministry and Agencies to imbibe the virtue of due diligence in their tasks, to achieve seamless delivery on the eight presidential priorities.
Buttressing his point on diligence; Dr Alake cited the Book of Proverbs, Chapter 22, verse 29 which says “Seest thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings, he shall not stand before mean men”.
Speaking during the 2024 Ministerial step-down retreat organized by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development; the Minister in his keynote address emphatically stated that staff of the Ministry must imbibe diligence in our attitude to work to deliver on the priority areas set by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. According to him, the Ministry’s deliverables point falls under Priority area 4.
“I noticed that the Ministry’s Deliverables falls under Priority Area four (4) which is to “Unlock Energy and Natural Resources for Sustainable Development”. The importance of delivering on this priority area cannot be over emphasized as the Nigerian Economy is in need of rapid economic growth through the Mineral sector. Given the limitless value this sector can provide, I believe with the efforts of everyone in this room, the Nigerian Economy can be positively catalyzed”, Dr Alake added.
Elaborating further on the importance of the Ministerial Retreat, the Minister said: “we will have the opportunity to engage in fruitful discussions especially towards the Ministry’s seven point agenda, share best practices, harvest ideas and identify innovative strategies to actualize the eight (8) Presidential priorities through the eighteen (18) deliverables”.
Addressing the gathering of Directors and Director-Generals of Agencies under the Ministry, Dr. Alake urged attendees to uphold due diligence in their roles, emphasizing the importance of adding value to the Ministry’s mandate. He reiterated the commitment to rewarding diligence and performance, while holding accountable those who fail to meet expectations.
While commending the collaborative efforts between the Ministry and the Committees on Solid Minerals Development at both the Senate and Federal House of Representatives; Dr. Alake expressed gratitude to local and foreign investors for their steadfast commitment to the sector’s success, pledging continued support to facilitate their business operations.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary Ogbe acknowledging the progress made in the solid minerals sector, urged participants to collaborate and innovate for greater achievements. She emphasized the ministry’s commitment to harnessing the sector’s potential for economic growth and job creation.
The retreat featured goodwill messages from distinguished guests, including Senator Mustapha Kabir who represented the Chairman, Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, and Chairman House Committee on Solid Minerals, Hon. Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi; who expressed optimism about the transformative impact of the solid minerals sector on Nigeria’s economy. They advocated for synergy and enhanced security measures to maximize the benefits of mineral resources.
Presentations by industry experts, including PwC Partner Habeeb Jaiyeola and Engr. D. A Awojobi provided valuable insights into the current state and potential of the mining sector. Discussions also centered on key deliverables, strategic and implementation plans by Directors of Mines Inspectorate, Mines Environmental Compliance and Artisanal & Small Scale Miners Departments of the Ministry.
Balogun Alaba
Head (Press & PR)
