The Kogi State Miners Association of Nigeria, has kicked off sensitisation of youths to tap into the opportunities inherent in the artisanal and small scale mining activities across the state.
The association held stakeholders sensitisation meeting at Ejule, Ofu Local Government Area of Kogi, and challenged youths, women and vulnerable to venture into the sector, saying it has the capacity to transform their social economic lives.
The Chairman of the Association in the state, Oruma Yunusa, noted that the youths who constitute high percentage of the population, have been neglected with its consequences on high crimes and criminality which has affected the society negatively.
Social economic status
In attempt to rid the society of these negative tendencies in the youths, the Association has decided to embark on advocacy to woo them into the business of artisanal and small scale mining activities, across the state.
Yunusa appealed to the federal government to ensure easy access to grants and loans and to provide necessary equipment and infrastructure to help his members work effectively and efficiently.
According to Federal Ministry of Mines and power, Obasi Destiny, artisanal and small scale miners constitute over 90% of mining activities across the sub-Saharan Africa, hence, the importance in lifting social economic status of the people cannot be overemphasized.
“The federal government through the ministry has packaged robust incentives that will encourage the youths, women and the vulnerable who are willing to change their economic narratives, assuring that the sector can take huge numbers of youths and women out of Poverty. We are also urging investors to be alive to the payment of royalties and to honour Community Development Agreement-CDA, to tame the tide of frequent clashes,” said Destiny.
