By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – IN the quest to ensure value addition on non-oil exports, the Minister of Solid Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, Friday, disclosed that the Federal Government would boost jewelry production with the establishment of more centres.

Speaking during a tour of the Laurel School of Mining in Abuja, Alake noted that the centre is doing what is in line with the current policy of government, which is basically value addition on solid minerals to create jobs, wealth and foreign exchange for the country, which he pointed out that there is no gainsaying about the importance of increasing jewelry production, because the focus is not to only meet local demand, rather to boost foreign trade as far as export is concerned based on the enormous potential the sector possesses to become a powerhouse for earning foreign exchange for Nigeria.

He also said with what he saw the centre is doing on solid minerals such as gold, sapphire, gemstones, and the likes, finished products as jewelries are being created at the centre, which gives hope on the efforts of the Tinubu-led ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’, which the solid minerals sector is championing to ensure the best is derived from the nation’s solid minerals.

He added that it has become imperative to replicate the centre across the country in order to boost entrepreneurship in the mining industry and support the local value addition policy, and that the Tinubu-led administration will strengthen the production at the centre, and once the 2025 budget implementation begins the establishment of the centres will commence across the country.

Interestingly, the Laurel School of Mining is a professional training facility dedicated to the development of Nigeria’s gem and jewelry industry with focus on mining, exploration, and manufacturing of high-quality gemstones and jewelry, which is being supported by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.

He said: “From our raw materials such as gold, sapphire, gemstones, and the likes, we are now seeing finished products—jewelry—being created at this centre. That is value addition. This is a significant contribution to our mining industry, which has the potential to provide employment for our youth, drive industrialization of the sector, and generate more revenue for the country.”

Meanwhile, earlier, the Managing Director, MD, and Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Laurel School of Mining, Tope Adebanjo, was elated for the backup the centre had received from the Ministry, while speaking extensively on the activities and tasks by the current Batch 4 Advanced Master Class training, which would not have been difficult if not for the Ministry’s support and commitment to ensure the best is derived from them.

According to Adebanjo, plans are underway to build the capacity of entrepreneurs in Nigeria’s gemstones and jewelry industry, therefore, he appealed to the Minister not to relent in giving the needed support in order to maximize the utilization of the equipment at the centre to boost the knowledge and skill of mining entrepreneurs as far as wealth and job creation are concerned for young people, which the Minister embraced the move and initiative, therefore, directed the MD/CEO (Adebanjo) to submit a proposal to that effect to the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Mary Ogbe.