KEY POINTS
- The government plans to open more gemstone and jewellery centres across Nigeria.
- The initiative is focused on boosting entrepreneurship and creating jobs in the mining industry.
- The Laurel School of Mining has played a key role in training skilled workers for the sector.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing additional gemstone and jewellery-making centres across the country.
This initiative aims to boost entrepreneurship within the mining industry and reinforce the local value-addition policy, which has been a priority for the administration.
Dele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, made this announcement during a recent tour of the Laurel School of Mining in Abuja on Friday. The centre has become a beacon of excellence in training skilled professionals in the jewellery and gemstone-making sectors.
Alake commended the centre for its outstanding contributions and noted that the quality of the jewellery produced at the facility is on par with international standards.
“The products we are seeing, from raw materials like gold, sapphire, and gemstones, to finished jewellery, are true examples of value addition,” said Alake. He emphasized that these products are highly competitive on the international market, showcasing Nigeria’s potential in the global mining industry.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress made and underscored the importance of the centre’s work in contributing to the economic growth of the nation.
Benefits of the new centres for the Nigerian economy
The government’s plan includes establishing more gemstone and jewellery-making centres across Nigeria once the 2025 budget is implemented.
Alake stressed the importance of scaling up jewellery production to meet both local demand and export opportunities. He sees the jewellery sector as a potential major contributor to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.
The growth of the gemstone and jewellery-making industry will not only generate employment for Nigeria’s youth but also drive industrialization in the sector. According to the minister, the initiative could play a key role in reducing unemployment, especially for young people.
Alake hopes that many of the youth currently engaged in illegal activities will be drawn to this legitimate sector, where they can acquire valuable skills and secure employment.
“This is more than just handiwork. It’s industrialization. When you are producing, you are contributing to the industrialization of the economy,” said Alake. He added that in the coming years, the government would be able to quantify the impact of these centres, which would contribute significantly to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Laurel School of Mining’s contribution to Nigeria’s growth
The Laurel School of Mining, which is spearheading the training initiatives, has received significant support from the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
According to Punch, Tope Adebanjo, the Managing Director/CEO of the Laurel School of Mining, expressed gratitude to the ministry for its continuous support, emphasizing that the institution would not have been able to offer its Batch 4 Advanced Master Class without the ministry’s assistance.
Adebanjo outlined the school’s plans to further develop the gemstones and jewellery industry in Nigeria, focusing on creating more entrepreneurs and providing opportunities for wealth generation and job creation. He requested the ministry’s continued backing to ensure maximum utilization of the centre’s facilities.
In response, Minister Alake directed Adebanjo to submit a detailed proposal for further action to the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Mary Ogbe.
