Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has expressed his commitment and determination to overhaul the mining sector making it dynamic beyond selling of raw materials into the development of value chains to get added earnings and redouble Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
The governor disclosed this on Monday at the opening ceremony of the Nigeria Gemstones Conference, held at the University of Ibadan Conference Hall, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The Governor, who was represented at the event by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, described the conference as a “laudable effort which will serve as a wake up call to managers of the economy and policy makers across board”.
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As contained in a press statement by the governor’s Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Monday, Jen yo is quoted as saying:”the gemstone sector is a multi billion dollar industry that has not received the right attention despite the push to diversify our national economy. It is therefore a welcome development that we are gathered here to deliberate on this sub- sector.
“We have a challenge to develop process capacity to add high value to our solid minerals. Specifically, gemstones present a high value opportunity for willing and enterprising Stakeholders to operate”.
Commending the organisers of the conference, Jenyo remarked further: “we can however not achieve much unless we engage the private sector more productively. The organized private sector remains the most viable vehicle to drive the value addition and expansion of our processing capacity”.
Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Olanike K. Adeyemo, expressed happiness, pledged government’s support for the resolution of the conference.
The organisers, Gemstones Miners And Marketers Association of Nigeria (GMMAN), is of the opinion that the conference is an opportunity for individuals and organisations in the gemstones industry to come together and discuss the latest trends, challenges and innovations in the field.
The event attracted miners, dealers, lapidaries, jewellers, leading experts, researchers, policymakers and business leaders from all over the nation, to share their knowledge and insights.
