The Federal Government has pledged to promote gender parity and support women’s empowerment by ensuring their full participation and representation in decision-making roles within the mining and steel industries.
It also emphasized that the strategy’s objectives, which are firmly rooted in the principles of equality, diversity, and empowerment, commit both ministries to promoting women’s economic empowerment and rights.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, disclosed this in Abuja, at the launching of the gender strategy for the mining and steel development sector and the Women in Mining in Nigeria.
The gender strategy centers around promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in the Nigerian mining and steel sectors, focusing on improving opportunities for women to benefit from both sectors sustainably in policy, regulatory, operational, and commercial roles, as well as in the value and supply chain.
Alake said: “We are committed to supporting women’s full participation and representation in decision-making spaces within the mining and steel sectors.
“We are committed to eliminating all barriers, both structural and systemic, that hinder women’s meaningful participation, access, and control over mining resources and benefits.
“Building partnerships across a wide range of stakeholders is essential in achieving the vision of this strategy. Strengthening our institutional capacity for effective gender mainstreaming and increasing women’s participation in leadership and governance roles within the mining sector and communities are crucial steps.”
Alake noted that this strategy is a call to action for the Women in Mining leadership to mobilize stakeholders and women to work towards a more inclusive and gender-balanced industry.
He added, “Our support to the association was based on a technical support request from its leadership to strengthen the performance of Women in Mining as an advocate for women’s development in 2018.
“This strategy is not just a document but a call to action and a blueprint for all stakeholders to create a more inclusive and gender-balanced mining and steel sector.
“It provides a guideline and framework to guide both ministries, their agencies, and stakeholders to integrate gender equality and women’s empowerment priorities into their policies, programs, and initiatives.”
Earlier in her remarks, the National President of Women in Mining in Nigeria (WIMIN), Mrs. Janet Adeyemi, described this unveiling as a beacon of hope and a rallying cry for collective action and solidarity.
She noted that the association serves as a platform to disseminate transformative strategies, mobilize stakeholders, and ignite a movement towards meaningful change.
Adeyemi said: “At Women in Mining, we see the empowerment of women in the mining sector not just as a goal but as a transformative force enriching individual lives and contributing substantively to the holistic development and prosperity of our communities.
“Our mission is to foster a supportive community that inspires innovation, sustainability, and excellence, driving positive change for women and the mining sector as a whole.
“Together, we aim to shape a future where women play pivotal roles in shaping the mining landscape, contributing to its growth, and fostering a culture of equality, respect, and shared success.”
Also, the Permanent Secretary Ministries of Solid Minerals Development and Steel Development, Dr Mary Ogbe, admonished industry players to remain steadfast in our resolve to implement the gender strategy” effectively, ensuring a mining sector that is equitable and inclusive.
However, Project Coordinator MinDiver, Engineer Sellim Salam, highlighted the importance of engaging a Consultancy firm to do a gender study and map out a strategy that will uplift the benefits and mainstreaming of women in the sector.
