By Palma Ileye
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has endorsed the Nigeria Solid Minerals roadshow and investment forum organised by the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa to showcase the immense opportunities for investors in the solid minerals sector.
Welcoming Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Tope Ajayi to his office at the weekend, Alake said the timely initiative is in line with the promotional and marketing component of the Ministry’s Seven-point agenda, which seeks to attract investors to the sector by showcasing the over 44 minerals which abound across the country.
In a press release issued by Segun Tomori, the Minister’s Media Aide, he advised the High Commission to further collaborate with the Ministry in future editions to harvest its rich resource in terms of artefacts and available research to improve the quality and traction of the forum.
Expressing his happiness that the campaign of the Ministry to make the global community aware of the government’s willingness to facilitate local value addition was gathering serious momentum, the Minister urged other Embassies and High Commissions to replicate the initiative in collaboration with the Ministry.
He noted that the Nigerian High Commission in Australia organised a recent roadshow and conference in collaboration with the ministry, adding that this should be the model for other Embassies to follow.
Earlier in his presentation, the Acting High Commissioner, Ambassador Ajayi, commended the Minister for putting the country’s solid minerals sector on the global circuit, noting that this encouraged the High Commission to leverage on his achievements.
The Ambassador revealed that over 40 companies, including mining giants such as Glencore, Rio Tinto, Africa Mining and Exploration, Anglo American, Exxaro Resources Limited, African Rainbow Mines, BELL Equipment and African Mining IQ have expressed interest in the event.