THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
A series of events, including exhibitions, conferences and workshops, dedicated to the mining industry in Nigeria takes place in the capital city Abuja from 25-27 October. Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, will deliver the welcome address at the inaugural Nigeria Mining Week.
Mining is being reactivated by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to play a more important role in the economy as part of Nigeria’s diversification efforts. The country aims to increase mining’s contribution to gross domestic product to 7 percent within a decade, from 0.3 percent last year, according to the minister.
“A national mining event, which we hope will grow into an international event,” is how Alhaji Sani Shehu, the President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN) – organisers of the Nigeria Mining Week, describes the event, which is co-located with the second edition of the iPAD Nigeria Mining & Quarrying Forum in partnership with PwC Nigeria conference and exhibition.
Cyril Azobu, PwC Nigeria’s Advisory Partner and Mining sector leader, says of the partnership: “building on the success of the PwC Mining round table in November 2014, we are very happy to have partnered with iPAD Nigeria to organise the Nigeria Mining Forum which held in November 2015. The forum opened the door to an exclusive networking opportunity for key stakeholders as well as technology solution providers who were seeking a new market and new clients for mineral exploration and extraction. It also afforded an opportunity for close interaction with policy makers to elucidate on their plans for the sector.”
He adds: “as leading advisors to the mining industry with mining professionals in all significant mining territories which includes Nigeria, PwC Nigeria is proud to team up with MAN and iPAD Nigeria to host the first edition of the Nigeria Mining Week, and we look forward to a very robust interaction”
“Nigeria a re-emerging mining nation”
Abuja is preparing for an all-encompassing meeting place for the mining sector, which will comprise a grand opening, strategic conference, technology and services showcase, various workshops for artisanal and small scale miners, followed by a grand closing.
The event is hosted by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and will welcome the entire mining ecosystem comprising of artisanal and small scale miners, junior mining operators, exploration companies, local and international investors, financial institutions, traders, solution providers as well as government bodies, to meet and discuss the current state of the market. // Seyi Bada
