By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – THE Federal Government through the Ministry of Steel Development, and African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML) Gujeni, have partnered to train skilled staff of the Ministry on steel development processes.

The Director, Raw Material Inspectorate and Metallurgical Development and Environmental Protection in the Ministry, Engr. Frederick Ewa, explained more about the collaboration, which is basically on knowledge sharing, which was necessary to build the capacity of staff of the Ministry on the current processes and technologies used in the Steel and Mining sector.

Ewa who led the staff of the Ministry to the “Knowledge and Experience Sharing” sessions in ANRML Plant in Gujeni, Kargarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, further stated that it is imperative for such ministry and industry interactions, learnings, and field visits has enabled the officials to be better informed about the processes and technologies used currently, the extent of investment involved and the kind of unique advantage the organisation is bringing to uplift the economy of Nigeria.

He said: “We felt it is time to groom a set of people who will understand what you are doing in the area of producing steel. After completion of the knowledge sharing and field visit, the officials are better informed about the processes and are in a position to take better decisions in the interest of the industry and the economy, as they are fully informed and knowledgeable about the process.

“Every nation or business does not break out from the blues, there are definite steps that must be taken and that is what ANRML has done in the Steel and Mining sectors of our country. ANRML has painstakingly followed through years of consistency in planning and following processes of establishing such a company in Nigeria.”

He (Ewa) also reiterated that, “The integrated steel plant is one of its kind in Africa. As director , I pledge to do everything within my power to ensure that ANRML succeeds in their Operational activities.”

The Director, Raw Material Development and Investment Promotion, Mr Ime Ekrikpo, who was part of the delegation said, “ANRML has demonstrated long and consistent commitment to the industrial development of Nigeria. The backward integration plant has brought a veritable hope for Nigeria’s industrialization. Congratulations to ANRML on this great feat”.

Meanwhile, in his response, Mr. Narasimha Nayak, Chief Executive Officer, CEO, ANRML, said the company was happy to pass its knowledge and experience to the staff of the Ministry of Steel Development and welcomed more collaborations.

“We will do all in our power to pass our knowledge, skill and experience to build a skilled manpower in the Steel sector and also add value to minerals mined here to bolster Nigerian economy”, Nayak said.

The African Natural Resources and Mines Limited, a group company of the African Industries Group (AIG), Through a significant non-oil foreign direct investment of $600 million has created jobs, boosting the Steel and Mining sectors, and promoting the government’s backward integration policy.

The company’s iron-ore mining and processing plant in Kaduna state creates high-value Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) as a raw material for steel production, reducing the need for imported scrap iron and positioning Nigeria as a potential global steel producer.