Mining Investment Conference to hold in Nigeria

The Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke will be meeting with stakeholders in the mining sector at the 4th Annual International Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition on Nigeria. The event schedule to take place at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja between May 19 and 21, 2009 will have President Umar Musa Yar’Adua as the Distinguished Guest of Honour.

In a statement signed by Engr. Muyiwa Olorunfemi, the Managing Director of Mineral Watch Consults the organisers of the event the Conference and Exhibition is a private sector led initiative aimed at propelling the rapid development of the mining sector in Nigeria and West Africa.

According to the statement, the Conference aims to bring investors, miners, bankers, financial institutions, mineral traders, consultants and professionals involved in the mineral business and the government policy makers together; to expose local and foreign companies in the mineral business to Nigerian mega banks that have positioned to take a leading role in this imminent mining revolution; to help industrialists to access cheap raw materials on a sustained basis from the mining industry; to provide an opportunity for junior and major mining companies to review geological data from the Geological Agency of Nigeria on world class virgin deposits; to present the legal and regulatory environment and what stakeholders can expect in the future; Present the basic requirements to facilitate entrance into mining business in Nigeria.

According to the statement, expected Speakers at the Conference includes Mr. Tim McCutcheon the Co-Founder DBM, Capital Partners, Russia, Mr Abel Malinga the Head, Mining and Beneficiation IDC, South Africa, Dr Chris Omerua the MD/CEO BGL, Private Equity, Nigeria, Mr. Fasina Ayedun the MD/CEO Multiverse Resources PLD and Dr. Laurence Robb, Savannah Gold Corporation, UK amongst others.

The statement further read: “it is self revealing that the prevalent global economic meltdown is a wake-up call to diversification of economic base of nations, which the conference theme: “Strategic Innovations & Investment Opportunities in Mineral Exploitation: A panacea for the Global Economic Crisis” seeks to address for the better Nigerian nation.

Besides the oil and gas sector, Nigeria is obviously endowed with abundant explorable mineral resources to enhance her sustainable development and revenue base. The question is “why the almost total neglect on non-oil mineral resources in Nigeria? “IMICON as one of its primary objectives embarks on high level calculations in form of annual forum for all stakeholders in mineral development sector to address this question and deliberate on the improvement of the sector and achieve sustainable development.”

It would be recalled that the first edition of the conference/exhibition (IMICON 2006) took place in Abuja and it brought together public and private sector stakeholders in the solid mineral sector as well as local miners and financial institutions ready to do business in the sector.

The Annual International Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition on Nigeria. is an initiative of Mineral Watch Consults and ICTC Inc. Canada in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. The event is sponsored by Diamond Bank, New Nigeria Development Company, First Bank, MMSD, Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists FCT, Raw Materials Research and Development Council and the Government of Plateau State amongst others.
Expected participants at the event includes: Geologists, Miners, Investors, Banks, Insurance Companies, Oil Companies, Lawyers, Equipment and Manufactures resellers, Stockbrokers and Institution.