Produce more mining engineers, Bamigbetan urges UNILORIN

The Special Adviser to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development,  Mr Kehinde Bamigbetan, has called on the management of the Technology and Engineering programmes into the field of solid minerals to support the growing solid minerals industry in the country.

In a chat with the UNILORIN BULLETIN after paying a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, penultimate Thursday (January 18, 2024) Mr Bamigbetan expressed his appreciation for the remarkable work being done at the University of Ilorin as he encouraged the management of the University to take on a pioneering role in fostering the production of more Mining Engineers.

The Special Adviser mentioned the availability of scholarship opportunities for Nigerian youths and urged the University of Ilorin to align its programmes with the current needs of the nation’s mineral industry.

He explained that with the solid mineral industry rapidly expanding, there is a pressing need for skilled mining engineers to harness the abundant resources available, including the increasingly vital mineral, lithium.

`           Mr Bamigbetan said, “There are about 44 major minerals in this country with about 70 billion naira conservative value. Lithium is seen everywhere in Nigeria right now and is a precious mineral all over the world. We need to develop human capacity to domesticate the extraction and processing of minerals.”

He emphasised the potential of Kwara State as a significant mining area and urged UNILORIN to take the lead in developing research centers that could lead to groundbreaking discoveries benefiting both Nigeria and Kwara State. He added that collaboration with the University of Ilorin and other institutions is crucial in bridging the gap between the country’s current state and the advanced mining capabilities of countries like Australia.

While underscoring the urgency in training a workforce equipped to contribute to the growth and sustainability of the solid minerals sector, Mr Bamigbetan said that the country is in urgent need to develop human capacity.

He also called on UNILORIN to play a pivotal role in producing skilled mining engineers in order to align with the national strategy targeted at harnessing the potential of the solid minerals industry for economic development and self-sufficiency.

The Special Adviser  acknowledged the commendable work being carried out by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.  Egbewole, and expressed support for the transformative initiatives underway.

He specifically praised the institution for its commitment to excellence in management and expressed admiration for the positive changes being implemented under the  Egbewole leadership..