By Gabriel Ewepu, Abuja

THE Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, yesterday, declared that women’s inclusivity in mining and steel sectors remain paramount.

Alake stated this in his address at the launch of Gender Strategy for Ministries of Solid Minerals Development and Steel Development in Abuja, where he maintained that the Tinubu-led administration has long ago prioritized and placed the issue of gender equity in the front burner to boost women’s participation in its ”Roadmap for the Growth and Development of the Nigerian Mining Industry’.

Therefore, with a retrospective assessment of the biases and inequalities against women in the sector, the Minister posited that the present administration has demonstrated unwavering commitment to foster diversity and empower women by implementing its roadmap initiative.

According to him, gender equality is both a moral and strategic decision that will drive innovation, enhance productivity and contribute to the sustainable development, hence their indispensability in terms of contributions women make to the success and sustainability of the mining sector.

Basically, the launch of gender strategy for the Nigerian Mining and Steel sectors, as a pioneering initiative is to foster diversity, empowering women and enhancing the overall sustainability of the mining sector.

He said: “We believe that promoting gender equality is both a moral and strategic decision that will drive innovation, enhance productivity and contribute to the sustainable development of our nation. We encourage our stakeholders to also entrench gender equality in their organizations.

“As we gather here, we recognize the indispensable contributions of women to the success and sustainability of the mining sector role, thereby shaping our nation’s development, Their talents, expertise , and perspectives are also essential to the success and growth of the mining industry.

”As part of efforts of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and Ministry of Steel Development, to implement this roadmap initiative, the Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification, MinDiver, engaged a consultancy firm, N & G Consulting Firm Ltd, to develop the gender strategy.

“In line with the strategy objectives, which are firmly rooted in the principles of equality, diversity, and empowerment, in both Ministries, we are committed to increasing women’s participation in leadership and governance roles within the mining sector and communities.”

Earlier, the National President, Women In Mining In Nigeria, WIMIN, Engr Janet Adeyemi, represented by the National Secretary, Emily Ofodile, described the launch of Gender Strategy for Ministries of Solid Minerals Development and Steel Development as a beacon of hope for women in the sectors.

“Today’s launch serves as a beacon of hope – a rallying cry for collective action and solidarity. It is a platform to disseminate these transformative strategies, mobilize stakeholders, and ignite a movement towards meaningful change”, Ofodile said.

Speaking, the Permanent Secretary of Ministries of Solid Minerals Development and Steel Development, Dr Mary Ogbe, counseled that industry players to remain steadfast “in our resolve to implement the gender strategy” effectively, ensuring a mining sector that is equitable and inclusive.

Meanwhile, the Project Coordinator MinDiver, Engr Sellim Salam, in a remark explained why it became important to engage a consultancy firm to do a gender study and map out a strategy that will uplift the benefits and mainstreaming of women in the sector.

The unveiling ceremony was garnished with a revealing presentation by the N & G Consulting Firm Ltd , and several goodwill messages from various organizations and stakeholders.