Director of the Minerals and Miners Centre (MMC), Dr Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, on Friday, said that no country would develop solely by exporting its raw commodities.
She also emphasized the importance of exporting value-added products rather than raw commodities in order to create wealth.
Asokoro-Ogaji, disclosed this while engaging consultants and experts in mineral processing and machinery manufacturing in London, to advance negotiations for Nigerian artisanal mining companies and state governments.
She explained that MMC aims to contribute to the ongoing efforts of allowing junior mining companies and artisanal miners to directly engage in mineral processing operations and receive training through mentorship and internship programs.
She said: “The mentorship and internship program of MMC is intended to bridge the skills gap in the solid minerals sector. Industrialization is the fastest way to wealth and global relevance.
“Mineral beneficiation in-country is a winning approach as against importation of Human Resources or exportation of Natural Resources.
“No country develops by exporting its raw commodities. That’s the gateway to poverty and mediocrity. Export of value added products is a highway to wealth creation and we must continuously look inwards and build capacities in this direction both at leadership level, managerial and operational levels.
“The private sector remains the engine of economic growth as captured in the developmental policies and plans of Nigeria. We are driving the process riding on the enabling environment provided by the federal government ministries, agencies and the state governments.
“The MMC approach is sensitive to social and environmental factors while ensuring economic goals are met for the companies and state governments we are working with.”
She noted that the MMC is working in collaboration with federal government ministries, agencies, and state governments, with a focus on social and environmental factors.
