AN ADDRESS BY THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIAN SOCIETY OF MINING ENGINEERS (NSME), ENGINEER BENJAMIN OKWUDILI NWUDE, FNSME, FNSE, FNMGS, FAutoEI, ON THE OCCASION OF THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 14^TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING / CONFERENCE OF THE NSME HOLDING FROM 28^TH OCTOBER – 31^ST OCTOBER, 2014 AT ABDULSALAM YOUTH CENTRE, MINNA, NIGER STATE

PROTOCOL

On behalf of the Council and the entire membership of our Society, it is my pleasure and special privilege to welcome you to the 14^th Annual General Meeting/ Conference tagged “MINNA 2014” of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers (NMSE). We are highly honoured by the presence of Mr. President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, represented by Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada, CON, FNIA, FNMGS, FNSME, the Chief Servant, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, OON, CON, (Talban Minna), His Excellency, Alhaji Abudul’Aziz Yari Abubakar, (Shettiman Mafara) Executive Governor of Zamfara State and other dignitaries at this great occasion in the life of our Society.

The theme of this Conference- “ENHANCING MINING INVESTMENTS FOR INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION OF NIGERIA” is very pertinent and in tune with the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, geared towards re-positioning Nigeria as a mining destination. This conference is aimed at re-echoing the economic and social importance of the minerals industry and sensitizing the public on the need to invest in the mining sector which has emerged as the economic revelation of this millennium.

At the last Annual General Meeting (AGM) of our great Society held in Akure, Ondo State, Abuja Zonal Chapter which Niger State belongs to was given a hosting right of 2014 AGM/Conference. Minna was then chosen to host this important conference considering the abundant mineral resources in Niger State and the good work the Chief Servant, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, OON, CON, (Talban Minna), the Governor of Niger State is doing, particularly in identifying the mineral potentials of Niger State and encouraging investors to invest in the development of mineral resources of Niger State. We also considered the peaceful environment of Niger State under the dynamic leadership of the Your Excellency, the Chief Servant of Niger State. We have great expectation that Minna will bring bright and enthusiastic flavour to our 14^th Annual General Meeting / Conference.

This Conference has attracted our members in large number and dignitaries to hear from thought leaders in the field of mining who will speak on the theme of this conference. Apart from technical presentations and Annual General Meeting of our Society, the conference intends to offer bubbly social events during which participants can renew old acquaintances and network with other members as well as exchange critical information and intelligent ideas which are critical for organizational productivity and efficiency improvement.

At this juncture, it is with great sorrow that I announce the death of three distinguished members of our Society in the persons of Alhaji Inuwa Gombe (Magajin Rafin Gombe), FNMGS, FNSME, OON, who was the first President of our great Society; Alhaji (Dr.) Rilwan Lukeman, CFR, KBE, FNSME, FNMGS, Engr. D. B. Usman, FNSME,FNMGS and Engr. Nuru Bello. May we all please rise and observe a minute silence in memory of the departed souls. May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace, Amen.

Our Society

Nigerian Society Mining Engineers is a volunteer professional organization founded in 1989 and incorporated in 1990 to advance the knowledge of its members and to cater for the scientific and technical needs of the Nigerian minerals industry. Our Society has its secretariat along Barkin Ladi Road in Bukuru, Plateau State with over 1000 members covering four classes of membership.

Our Society covers another professional milestone this year which coincides with it celebrates its Silver Jubilee. Modesty forbids us from saying how well our Society has performed for the past twenty-five years. But the Society’s achievements speak for themselves. Our Society has played and will continue to play a major role in shaping the Nigerian minerals industry. Over the years, the Society has continued to communicate and disseminate technical, economic, environmental and educational information to its members and the minerals industry through promotion of advancement of mining and mineral engineering and publications- ‘The MINER’ and ‘Nigerian Mining Journal’. Our Society has a good record of being a respected forum for discussing issues that face the minerals industry from time to time. It has not relented in its efforts in promoting mining education, professionalism and excellence through presentation of awards to outstanding students, individuals and corporate organizations.

The Society has also made useful contributions to Government and the National Assembly on various issues as they affect the mining industry through its various communiqués, position papers, representation on Presidential Committees on ‘Solid Mineral Development’ among others. These achievements have helped to build the reputation of our Society and this we count as very important. We take pride in what our Society has achieved for the past twenty-five years. Perhaps, this is why the membership strength of our Society has continued to grow.

These lofty achievements by our Society could not have been possible without the commitment, support and loyalty of all our members coupled with tremendous goodwill from many individuals and corporate organizations. We are grateful to those individuals and corporate organizations who contributed to the success story of our Society, whose names are too numerous to mention here. However, for special mention, we have selected late Alhaji Inuwa Gombe, FNMGS, FNSME, OON, (Magajin Rafin Gombe) who was the first President of our great Society; Late Engr. (Ichie) P. C. Okonkwo, FNMGS, FNSME, FIMM, who was the second President of our Society and Engr. Prince L. A. Adegboye, FNSME, FNMGS, FNSE, FIMM, (Otume Ebira), who was the pioneer Secretary-General and the third President of our Society.

Nigerian Mining Industry

The Nigeria’s mining sector has the potential to boost economic growth through the provision of employment, export revenues and investment in infrastructure and human capital. In view of this, the Federal Government is leaving no stone unturned in creating the enabling environment to attract investment to this important sector. The government has already put in place a mining code and constitutional provisions coupled with attractive economic incentives that are globally competitive to guarantee free access to underground wealth, and attract foreign investments to the minerals and metals sector of the national economy.

We use this opportunity to commend Mr. President, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, through the Hon. Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Musa Mohammed Sada, CON, FNIA, FNMGS, FNSME, for his relentless effort in re-positioning Nigeria as a mining destination. To its credit, Mr. President has stimulated the interest of foreign investors to invest in the mining sector. To bring the interest of the investors into action, the need to address following issues cannot be over-stressed:

1. Provision of High Level Geoscientific Information

The government should continue to compliment the efforts of exploration companies in providing basic geoscientific data in order to minimize funding risk associated with discovery of new deposits.

2. Provision of Adequate Mining-Related Infrastructure

The Governments, both Federal and State should intensify their efforts in providing adequate mining-related infrastructure such roads, railways, seaports, etc. so that the economic viability and value of mining projects are not impaired by capital expenditures.

3. Provision of Adequate and Cheap Electric Energy

The Government should intensify its efforts in encouraging the private sector participation in providing adequate and low-cost electric energy to make mining in Nigeria competitive.

4. Stopping Indigenous Terrorism

All Nigerians should co-operate and support the Federal Government’s efforts to overcome the present security challenges facing our nation, which have slowed down activities in the mining sector.

5. Provision of Loanable Funds For Mining Projects

The Federal Government should use part of revenues derived from the oil and gas sector to provide loanable funds (Solid Minerals Development Fund) at single digit interest rates for indigenous investors in minerals sector considering high cost of capital and long gestation period of mining projects.

6. Encouraging Domestic Utilization of Nigeria’s Minerals

The Government should provide attractive incentives for mineral-related industries, particularly steel industry to use Nigeria’s mineral raw materials.

7. Discouraging Informal Miners

Artisanal miners have been found to be the actual and potential source of conflict with much-needed major mining companies. The Government should therefore, intensify its efforts in encouraging the artisanal miners to form co-operatives and bring them into the mainstream of industrial activities by giving them legal backing.

8. Establishing a Spirit of Partnership Between all Stakeholders

The Government should intensify its efforts in organizing regularly stakeholders’ forum involving the government, communities and mining companies to minimize friction between them.

9. Capacity Building

Capacity building in the mineral industry is very critical to effective mine operations, management and implementation of Government policies. Training and re-education our members should be intensified.

NSME MEMBERS

The signs of improvements in the minerals industry are encouraging. This new development in the mining sector calls for professional competence and ingenuity of our members to meet the manpower needs of the industry. We must continue to protect the ethics of our profession and promote mining in our efforts to establish the true image of the mining industry.

We wish to use this opportunity to humbly appeal to the Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development to passionately consider appointing a representative of Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers as a member of the Council of COMEG. We also appeal to the Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development to appoint mining engineers to head his technical departments. For example, since 2008, the Artisanal and Small-scale Miners Department of the Ministry has been headed by non- mining engineers.

We commend the efforts of Council of Mining Engineers and Geoscientists (COMEG) in striving to meet its statutory mandate, despite its lean budgetary provision. We must pay our practicing fees when due and support COMEG and its programmes for effective service delivery to the minerals industry. We also commend COMEG for issuing Practice License to registered professionals who are up-to-date with payment of their annual practicing fees. There is no doubt that this new innovation will eliminate quacks from the mining industry and compel registerable mineral professionals in the industry to quickly register with COMEG, if they desire to continue practicing their profession. Continuing professional development is more paramount in our profession than in most other professions because of rapid advancement of science and mining technology. We therefore, need to re-double our efforts in collaborating with COMEG in establishing or developing a registry of formal continuing education opportunities for our members.

You may wish to be informed that Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society (NMGS) has commenced the building of “Geosciences and Mining House” in Abuja under the dynamic leadership of Sir Prof. Songo Clifford Teme, FNMGS, who is the 27^th President of NMGS. Prof. Teme who runs an inclusive administration passionately seeks our support for pragrammes and activities of NMGS. In order to strengthen our Society, we wish to appeal to the President of NMGS to stop registering any mining engineer who has not pass through Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers.

There is still a lot to be done for the growth of our Society. I therefore, seek your support for programmes and activities of our Society. I am highly honoured to serve as your President and assure you that my Council will continue to direct its efforts to maintaining and improving the services of our great Society.

FELLOWSHIP AWARD

Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased and honoured to inform you that the following distinguished persons have been conferred with the Honorary Fellowship Award by the Council of our Society:

1. His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mr. President who is the Grand Patron of our Society was conferred with Honorary Fellowship Award in appreciation and recognition of his relentless efforts in repositioning Nigeria as a mining destination and his immense contributions and achievements to humanity and development of Nigeria through his transformation agenda.
2. His Excellency, the Chief Servant, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, OON, CON, (Talban Minna), Governor of Niger State. He was conferred with Honorary Fellowship Award in appreciation and recognition of his advocacy for development of Solid Mineral Resources and his contributions and achievements to humanity and development of Nigeria.
3. His Excellency, Alhaji Abudul’Aziz Yari Abubakar, (Shettiman Mafara) Executive Governor of Zamfara State. He was conferred with Honorary Fellowship Award in appreciation and recognition of his pivotal role in attracting investors to solid minerals sector of Zamfara State and his contributions and achievements to humanity and development of Nigeria.

Their investiture will take place at this ceremony. The following distinguished members were transferred from Class Member to the Class of Fellow of our Society:

1. Dr. B. M. Olaleye
2. Dauda Aremu Awojobi

We heartily congratulate them and expect their continued interest and support to the growth our great society in particular and the nation in general.

Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, Fellows, Members, ladies and gentlemen, once more, I welcome you all to the 14^th AGM/Conference of Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers and pray that God Almighty, will guide the meeting and return you all to your various stations safely.