Chemical Engineers: Adding Value to 44 Solid Minerals of Nasarawa State Will Boost Dwindling Economy

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

National President of the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, Anthony Ogbuigwe, has said that with the down turn experienced in the oil production sector from 2.3 million barrels a day to between 1.3-1.6 million, the solid mineral sector has proven to be a goldmine and the 44 minerals of Nasarawa State can revamp the economy if value is been added.
Ogbuigwe who spoke in Abuja during the 54th conference of chemical engineers said 85 percent of value added to resources is what create wealth in every nation and not just the possession of it, adding that value must be invested in it.
With the conference themed – “Value Enhancement in Solid Minerals and Agro Allied Sectors for Industrial Development” – the president said another sector that has shown huge potential in reviving the economy is the agricultural sector and with produce that must be exported for earnings in foreign exchange.

According to him, “85 % of value added to resources is what creates wealth and we believe that as a nation, we must add value to the resources that we have, and if we can add value to the 44 resources in Nasarawa State and others in other parts of the country, our economy will be strong.
“Nigeria used to be known for manufacturing in the past particularly in the field of textiles, groundnut pyramids and Peugeot plant.

“Unfortunately, all of the have folded up and we are seeing a situation whereby the oil industry which used to be the bedrock of our economy has suffered a down turn and our oil production has dropped from 2.4million barrels per day at the peak, to about 1.3- 1.6 million depending on the situation.

“We therefore believe that the solid mineral sector and the agricultural sector can drive the development of this nation.
“The focus of the conference this year is on value addition in the solid minerals and agro-allied sectors. The whole objective is to highlight how we add value. Having mineral resources do not automatically mean that a nation is wealthy; you’re only wealthy to the extent that you add value to resources that you have.”
He added that the government is well poised to create an enabling environment for value addition to take place and the recommendations of the conference will be sent to various government agencies for possible implementation that will boost the economy through value addition.
In her comments, chairman of the occasion and the 34th president and chairman in council of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Margaret Oguntala, said to harness the great potentials embedded in the country through man power, the girl child must be encouraged to go into science-based subjects, while noting that every girl has traits and natural qualities of being a leader.
According to her, “The girl child has the natural traits of a leader and it’s a known fact. They have all the requirements of leadership. A woman is more patient and we are more precise, more detailed and focused and this is what STEM requires and girls have it naturally.

“Every girl child should have interest in STEM because it is with the women and the diversity that women bring into science, tech and mathematics that will help to build the technological world and indeed the global society.”

In his speech, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said to create Internally Generated Revenue for the state and reduce over dependence on allocation from the federal government, registered miners are allowed to operate in the state provided they do not export the mineral resources in their crude form out of the country.

Represented by the commissioner for science, technology and innovation, Samuel Kafu Emgba, the governor said lithium which is been mined at the moment in the state is processed only in Nasarawa State or any other part of the country and this has encouraged the establishment of other mining trades, and which has encouraged additional resources.

He said: “We don’t want the mineral to be taken in its crude form out of this country to other countries, so we are planning to industrialize the state and Nigeria as a whole. So, the condition is that the mineral is there for investors who would be permitted to explore and mine but will be processed only in Nasarawa State or anywhere in Nigeria, provided it’s within the country.

“They are already exploring and mining and have to give the state the value added the minerals, especially lithium that is been mined at the moment are being processed in Nasarawa sate and a lot of companies are coming to establish their trade and in other additional resources.”