Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has called for increased investment in solid mineral exploration, processing and value addition to drive economic diversification, industrialisation and job creation.
Sani made the call on Monday through the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, who represented him at the opening of the fifth Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Society of Economic Geologists in Kaduna.
The four-day conference, which began on October 18 and will end on October 21, has the theme, “Unlocking the Earth’s Mineral Potential: Innovation and Discovery for Future Resources.”
The governor said Nigeria’s vast mineral resources could contribute significantly to national development if supported by responsible exploration, modern technology, credible investment and local processing capacity.
“The true measure of this wealth lies not merely in what is beneath the earth, but in our collective ability to transform these resources into economic opportunity and improve livelihoods for the people,” he said.
Sani said Kaduna was strategically positioned to contribute to the development of the mining industry, given its mineral resources and investment opportunities in exploration, processing and mineral-based industries.
He said his administration was committed to partnering with the Federal Government, private investors, development partners and host communities to create an enabling environment for sustainable mining.
The governor stressed that mineral development should deliver benefits beyond revenue generation, particularly by creating employment for young people, stimulating businesses and improving living conditions in mining communities.
“We also recognise that unlocking our mineral potential goes beyond revenue generation. It must create employment for our youth, stimulate local businesses, improve community livelihoods, and contribute to the development of our state and our nation,” he said.
He urged participants to use the conference to attract investments, strengthen partnerships and develop practical solutions for the sector while ensuring environmental protection and equitable benefits for host communities.
In his welcome address, the President of the NSEG, Prof. Samuel Olobaniyi, said Nigeria must adopt a systematic approach to mineral exploration and development rather than rely solely on its resource potential.
“The message of this theme is clear: Nigeria must move from possessing mineral potential to systematically discovering, proving, developing, and adding value to its mineral resources,” he said.
Olobaniyi said economic geologists had a critical role to play in identifying viable mineral deposits, improving resource assessments and reducing investment risks in the mining industry.
He warned against allowing market excitement to drive mineral development, insisting that the sector should be guided by reliable geological information, proper resource evaluation and environmentally responsible production.
“Our national ambition should extend beyond exporting unprocessed minerals. We should work towards developing the technical capacity, infrastructure, skilled workforce, and industrial partnership required to retain greater value within the Nigerian economy,” he said.
The NSEG president called for increased investment in technical expertise, infrastructure and industrial partnerships to enable Nigeria to retain more economic benefits from its mineral resources.
He also disclosed that the society had inaugurated its Ibadan and Abuja zonal chapters on May 1 and June 11, 2026, respectively, and completed the first volume of its official journal, the Bulletin of Economic Geology, which would soon be published online.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society, Rose Chundung Ndong, called for stronger collaboration among professional bodies, government agencies, academic institutions and private-sector operators to accelerate the development of the solid minerals sector.
Ndong identified remote sensing, geographic information systems, advanced geophysical methods, digital geological databases and artificial intelligence as tools capable of improving the accuracy and efficiency of mineral exploration.
“As we gather to deliberate on the future of mineral resources, we must recognise that innovation is no longer optional,” she said.
She said mineral deposits alone could not guarantee economic growth without reliable geological data, adequate investment, supportive policies, responsible mining practices and a skilled workforce.
Ndong reaffirmed her organisation’s commitment to collaborating with the NSEG through research, professional training, technical workshops, mentorship and geological data sharing.
In a goodwill message, the Director-General of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, Prof. Olusegun Adeloye, pledged the agency’s continued support for geological research, reliable geoscientific data generation and evidence-based decision-making in the mining sector.
Adeloye said economic geology was essential to identifying commercially viable mineral deposits, improving resource evaluation, attracting investment and promoting environmentally responsible mining.
He expressed confidence that the conference would generate recommendations to address challenges and unlock opportunities in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry.
The stakeholders called for increased investment, technological innovation, effective regulation and local processing to position the sector as a driver of economic diversification, industrial growth and employment.