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.
 Engineers in Nigeria have been charged to champion the cause of diversifying the country's economy){kind=link}