The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has called for collaboration among stakeholders in Plateau toward developing the solid mineral sector in the state.
Mrs Nonye Ayeni, Executive Director of NEPC, made the call during a ”One-day Strategic Engagement on Development of Solid Minerals for Export”, it organised on Thursday in Jos.
Ayeni, while highlighting the council’s commitment toward ensuring that the mineral sector gets the required boost, urged stakeholders to join hands with the council to boost exportation in Nigeria.
“This is a new chapter that will be defined by collaboration, innovation, and determination.
”It is a call to action for all stakeholders, government bodies, private enterprises, local communities, and development partners to join hands in realising the full potential of Plateau’s solid mineral sector.
“Our strategic engagement will not only focus on the extraction of minerals, but also on the entire value chain, from exploration and processing to marketing and export.
“We must adopt a holistic approach that fosters sustainability, inclusivity, and competitiveness.
”To achieve this, we must prioritise several key areas, such as infrastructural development, capacity building, regulatory reform, market access and community engagements,” she said.
Mr Samson Idowu, the North-Central Coordinator of NEPC, said Plateau has rich land and avalanche of natural resources, capable of sustaining the state and the nation in general.
He urged stakeholders to collaborate with the council to achieve more from the sector.
“Plateau is a richly blessed state, nearly all the local government areas are endowed with one or more solid mineral resources, ranging from gemstones like Topaz Aquamarine Sapphire and a good number of other solid minerals.
“Unfortunately, these solid minerals are lying fallow and this is because we are not doing enough; this means we are also not getting enough benefits from these natural resources.
“This is why we are here to engage every stakeholder in the solid mineral sector, from private sector to government, and to every relevant party in the solid mineral business.
“This is a wake up call for us to come together and maximise the potentials within this sector” he said.
Mr Zephaniah Ndaja, the Chief Executive Officer of Zaray Gems and Minerals and Resource Person at the event, stressed the need for policy formulation that would be a catalyst for growth of the sector.
“I will like to urge all relevant authorities concerned with policy formulation to make the gemstone sector development a priority.
“We must prioritise the Plateau Ultra Modern Lapidary, so as to make the sector a major contributor to the state’s economic growth,” he said.