National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Materials Engineers (NIMMME) and Vice Chancellor, Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Prof. Abdulrahman Salawu
Metallurgical, Mining and Materials (3M) Engineers in Nigeria have been charged to champion the cause of diversifying the country’s economy by exploring and enhancing innovative strategies to enhance the solid minerals and mining sector.
Prof. Oluwatoyin Ashiru, Pro-Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University, gave the charge during a paper presentation at the 2025 International Conference of the Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Materials Engineers tagged: “Diversifying the Nigerian Economy Through Metals and Solid Minerals Development” in Lokoja, Kogi State Capital, North Central Nigeria.
The paper, titled, “Engineering Nigeria’s Economic Diversification: Unlocking the Power of Metals and Solid Minerals” highlighted how professionals in the industry must drive innovation and investment to the sector, to boost its contribution to the nation’s GDP, which currently stands at N1.39tn as at 2024, according to the GDP report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
He explained that over dependence on the oil and gas sector is no longer sustainable in the face of growing global challenges, and urged professionals and governments at all levels to prioritise the solid minerals, mining and metallurgical industry.
”Our over-dependence on oil and gas has exposed us to global
shocks, exchange rate pressures, and fiscal vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, beneath our soil lies an abundance of strategic minerals and metals – waiting not only to be extracted, but to be transformed into engines of industrial growth and national prosperity,” he said.
“It is time to move from being a country of untapped resources to becoming a
nation of engineered value and industrial strength. “It is time to move from resource-rich to industry-driven. “It is time to engineer a new economic future for Nigeria,” he emphasised.
Prof. Ashiru explained that Nigeria is vastly blessed with natural resources enough to be a major global player in the metallurgical, mining and materials engineering sector, but remains poorly untapped.
“Critical minerals demand is set to quadruple by 2040 according to the IEA, World Bank,”he said.
“Nigeria is ranked among top 10 African countries with strategic mineral
reserves. Global battery minerals market is projected to exceed $300 billion by 2030.
“Countries like Australia, Chile and South Africa have built multi-billion
dollar value chains around minerals Nigeria also possesses. The global push for green energy is creating an unprecedented opportunity
for resource-rich countries to move up the value chain,” Prof. Ashiru added.
“Yet the Global Market is Hungry for Critical Minerals to Power:
• Electric vehicles
• Renewable energy
• High-tech manufacturing
• Infrastructure megaprojects.
“Nigeria can, and must, position itself to serve this demand – not as an exporter of raw ores, but as a producer of finished and semi-finished materials integrated into global value,” he explained.
Winners of the Dr. Friday Apeh Memorial Students Essay competition
Pathways to Diversification
Professor Ashiru further called on Engineers across the country to explore these strategic pathways to diversify the Nigerian economy.
Build local value chains: Invest massively in beneficiation and value addition industries – particularly in steel, alloys, battery minerals, and advanced materials.
Modernise Infrastructure: Develop critical logistics (rail, ports, power) that support efficient mining and materials industries
Catalyse Investments: De-risk the sector through smarter regulation, public-private partnerships, and sovereign guarantees for key projects.
Drive Skills and R&D: Strengthen our universities and research centers; promote industry-academic partnerships.
“We need a new generation of materials scientists, metallurgists, process engineers, and digital mining specialists.”
Promote sustainability: Adopt world class environmental, social, and governance practices. Make sustainable mining our competitive edge.
In his welcome address, the host of the conference and National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Materials Engineers (NIMMME), who is also the Vice Chancellor of the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, Kogi state, said the theme of the conference was carefully chosen as part of efforts to contribute to efforts to curb over dependence on oil and gas, and diversify the nation’s economy.
“By developing the metals and solid minerals sectors, we can boost employment, improve living standards, and create opportunities in other critical industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism,” he said.
“This conference aims to chart a sustainable path towards achieving the noble objectives,” he added.
The conference featured other activities including cash awards for winners of the Dr. Friday Apeh Memorial Students Essay competition from three universities, a visit to the Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd., Dangote Cement Obajana Plant, the Annual General Meeting and Dinner of the Institution, among other activities.
The Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Materials Engineers (NIMMME) is a Division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
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