The Federal Government and Murdoch University, Australia, have launched a capacity development programme for the first batch of Nigerian mining professionals.
The Minister of Solid Minerals, Dele Alake, disclosed this in a post on his official X platform on Sunday.
“We have officially launched a training programme for Nigerian mining professionals at Murdoch University in Australia, a project we began shaping less than two years ago.
“With support from the Australian Government and the Australian High Commission in Nigeria, this initiative is helping us close the skills gap in our mining sector. Eleven Nigerians are now undergoing intensive technical training, covering areas like extractive metallurgy and sustainable geochemistry, and engaging directly with industry experts.
“This partnership with one of the world’s top mining nations is a major step forward for Nigeria. I’m grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering support, and to the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E Leilani Bin-Juda for her tireless commitment. Murdoch University has also welcomed us warmly and we are grateful.
“To our participants, do represent Nigeria well. Use this opportunity to deepen your expertise and help us build a mining sector that truly serves our people. This is only the beginning,” he wrote.
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Earlier, the Minister’s spokesman, Segun Tomori, described the initiative as a key outcome of the Nigeria-Australia collaboration, supported by the Commonwealth government.
Tomori said the programme aims to address skill gaps in the mining sector and strengthen bilateral ties between Nigeria and Australia.
“The initiative stems from a bilateral agreement signed by Alake during the 2023 Africa Down Under (ADU) Conference in Perth, Australia,” he said in a statement.
“The agreement, entered with the Government of Western Australia—through the Australian Ministry of Mines and Petroleum—and Murdoch University, seeks to facilitate technical training for Nigerian mining professionals.”
“The training covers a wide range of subjects, including extractive metallurgy, sustainable geochemistry, and mineral science research.
“Participants will also embark on field trips and engage directly with industry experts to explore mining trends, investment opportunities, and sustainability challenges.”
By: Baabajide Okeowo
The post FG, Australian university partner to train Nigeria’s mining professionals appeared first on Latest Nigeria News | Top Stories from Ripples Nigeria.
