Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NSME) held its 17^th Annual General Meeting (AGM)/Conference tagged “Kaduna 2017” from 7^th to 10^th November, 2017 at ASAA Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The theme of the Conference was “UNLOCKING THE INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN NIGERIA’S MINING SECTOR” which was in line with the present Administration’s Agenda of diversification of the economy.  The four-day event featured various presentations on the Conference theme and sub-themes, business session (AGM proper), evening dinner and investiture of fellowship awards on distinguished members and individuals.

On Wednesday, 8^th November, 2017 Pre-AGM Panel Discussion was held at Multipurpose Hall, ASAA Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna under the chairmanship of the past President of our great Society, Engr. S. O. Oladipo, FNSME. The event attracted many participants from government, academia, and industry. The lead papers presenters were Engr. O. Simon Nkom, FNSME, Director, Mines Cadastre Office who gave a thought- provoking paper, ‘Improvement of Artisanal and Small Scale Mining in Nigeria’, Engr. Prof. John Ade-Ajayi, FNMS, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State who spoke on ‘Without Prioritized Value Addition, Solid Minerals Development in Nigeria is But a Mirage’ and Engr. Prof. B. M. Olaleye, FNSME, Department of Mining Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State who spoke on “ Capacity Building and Research as Tools for Developing the Mineral Sector”. The session was coordinated by Engr. Mohammed Ali, FNSME, while Engr. Umar Hassan, FNSME, Engr. Dr. B. Adebayo, Engr. J. Z. Kwaha, FNSME, Engr. Dr. F. Asuke, and Engr. Dr. Lugman K. Salati served as members of Panel Rapporteurs.

On Thursday 8^th November, 2017 the opening ceremony of the 17^th AGM/Conference took place at Multipurpose Hall, ASAA Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna under the chairmanship of Engr. Mohammed Inuwa Musa, former Minister of State (Transport) and Chairman of Adar Global Ventures. The occasion was well attended by members, the cream of experts in the Nigerian mining industry, government officials and distinguished guests. In attendance were Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Mal. Nasir El-Rufai, OFR represented by Mrs. Amina Ruth Dyeris Sijuwade, Hon. Commissioner, Kaduna State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Rector of Kaduna Polytechnic, Prof.  Idris Bugaje, FNSE, Engr. M. K. Amate, FNSME, Director General, Mines Cadastre Office, Engr. N. A. Yakubu, FNSME, OON, past 1^st Vice President of NSME, former Commissioner of INEC,  Engr. S. O. Oladipo, FNSME, past President of NSME, Engr. B. O. Nwude, FNSME, Immediate Past President of NSME, Alhaji Aminu Ya’u, Chairman of AAY International Company,  Alhaji Abdurraman Ashiru, Chairman/CEO of Shirash Nigeria Ltd,  Engr. Babagana Abba Dalori, Chairman/CEO of Galaxy Nig. Ltd, Engr. M. Azudia, FNSME and many other dignitaries.

As usual it was speeches galore at the opening ceremony. The highlights of the ceremony included the welcome address by the host, NSME President, Dr. E. O. A. Damisa, FNSME; the address by Chief Host, Mal. Nasir El-Rufai, OFR, the Executive Governor of Kaduna State; goodwill messages from the Chairman of the occasion, organizations, and individuals; conferment of Honorary Fellowship Award of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers on Alhaji Aminu Ya’u, Chairman of AAY International Company in recognition and appreciation of his exemplary leadership qualities and meritorious contributions to the development of gold and gemstone mining in Nigeria; conferment of Special Award of Honour on the following personalities: Alhaji Bashir Ahmad, Chairman of Duwan (Nig.) Ltd in recognition and appreciation of his immense contribution to the development of the mineral resources, mining equipment manufacture and the employment of young mining engineers; Alhaji Abdurraman Ashiru, Chairman/CEO of Shirash Nigeria Ltd, in recognition and appreciation of his immense contribution to the development of the mineral resources in Nigeria and Engr. Babagana Abba Dalori, Chairman/CEO of Galaxy Nig. Ltd in recognition and appreciation of his immense contribution to the development of the solid mineral sector of Nigeria; conferment of the 2017 Award of Inuwa Gombe Prize on Salami Oluwafemi Babatunde of department of Mining Engineering of the Federal University of Technology, Akure as the best graduating student of mining engineering in Nigerian Higher Institutions; and the public presentation of Volume 14 and 15 of the Nigerian Mining Journal by Engr. Mohammed Inuwa Musa, former Minister of State (Transport) and Chairman of Adar Global Ventures and its launching. The opening ceremony was coordinated by the Master of Ceremony, Engr. Mohammed Ali, FNSME.

Following the opening ceremony was the technical session which received many technical papers on sub-themes of the conference. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place late afternoon under the chairmanship of NSME President, Dr. E. O. A. Damisa, FNSME. The Meeting received reports from the NSME President and other executive officers. The President reported that the Council had conducted its own election and called for election of six Members in Council. The election was conducted and the following members were elected: Engr. Dr. Dungka G. Thomas, Engr. Princess (Mrs.) Florence Diejomaoh, Engr. Dr. Luqman K. Salati, Engr. Prof. S. A. Yaro, Engr. Oyebola A. W. Oyeladun and Engr. S. A. Agbalajobi.

The elected executive officers to run the affairs of the Society included President- Dr. E. O. A. Damisa, FNSME, 1^st Vice President- Prof. B. M. Olaleye, FNSME, 2^nd Vice President- Prof. B. S. Jatau, FNSME, Secretary General- Engr. Umar A. Hassan, FNSME, Assistant Secretary General- Engr. O. Johnbull, Financial Secretary- Engr. Adigun Fatai, Treasurer- Engr. John Marshall, Social Secretary- Engr. A. A. O. Adetunji, FNSME, Publicity Secretary- Engr. A. D. Bida, Editor-in –Chief- Engr. Dr. I. S. Amoka, FNSME, Auditor- Engr. Anthony U. Ojile, FNSME and Immediate Past President- Engr. B. O. Nwude, FNSME. The following members were re-elected as Fellows- in- Council: Engr. S. O. Oladipo, FNSME, and Engr. Mahmoud Sanusi Jibril, FNSME, while Messsrs  Julius Berger and Shell Petroleum Development Company were re-elected as Institutional Members-in- Council. In his post-election speech, NSME President, Dr. E. O. A. Damisa, FNSME expressed his gratitude to God Almighty, the Council and the entire membership of the Society for re-electing him and his team to run the affairs of the Society for 2018 and 2019 professional years. He solicited the co-operation and support of all members to lift the Society to higher heights.

The 17^th AGM/Conference of the Society was rounded up with dinner and Award Night. The NSME President welcomed members and guests to the dinner and asked them to enjoy their meals and drinks. However, he assured the audience that the programme of the evening would be short. The highlight of the impressive evening was the conferment of Fellowship Award on Engr. Dr. Dungka George Thomas, Engr. Aliyu Danladi Bida, and Engr. Mrs Princess Florence A. Diejomaoh by the NSME President, Dr. E. O. A. Damisa, FNSME, in appreciation and recognition of their outstanding contributions to the growth of our Society and the Nigerian Minerals industry. He also conferred Presidential Award on the following distinguished members: Engr. Ashiru Yunusa, Engr. Bakkuk Stephen Goyol, Engr. Dr. Luqman Kareem Salati, Engr. Mohammed Musa, and Engr. Abdurrahman Abubakar. The Master of Ceremony of the evening outing was Engr. Aliyu Danladi Bida. The Society is indebted to the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of ‘Kaduna 2017’and many corporate organizations and individuals who contributed in various ways in making the AGM/Conference a big success.