Nigeria will soon be a gemstone and jewelry destination for other countries,Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Ach. Olamilekan Adegbite,has said
He also said and that in no distant time, the country will export finished jewelries which would increase the sector’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product.
He spoke at the graduation ceremony of the first batch of the gemstone and jewelry making trainees of the Abuja Chambers of Commerce and Industry
Adegbite in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Director of Press Mrs Etore Thomas ,stated that the seven months training was part of the Federal Government’s efforts at discouraging exportation of raw ore and ensuring that whatever is produced in the country is also processed in Nigeria.
He said this would create jobs and wealth for the youth.
On the essence of the programme, he said; “this programme was designed to impart knowledge on you, so that we can make jewelries in Nigeria, we are going to retain our gold and gemstones in Nigeria, add value to it, sell to our people and export to other countries.
Addressing the graduands, Adegbite charged them to impart the knowledge they have acquired to others in their communities.
“The best gift you can impart on anyone is knowledge and this is what you have been endowed with. What you have acquired in the last seven months is to help yourselves to be engaged meaningfully and fruitfully but more importantly, to help this country to move forward, create employment and combat youth restiveness, he added”.
“You will not be cast adrift, we are working with your State Governments to provide space where you can operate while we empower you with equipments and materials to practice your skills”, Adegbite further assured them as he disclosed that the second phase of the training is in progress.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Project Coordinator, Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification (MinDiver) Project, Engr. Sallim Salaam, appreciated the commitment and support of the leadership of the Ministry led by the Hon. Minister which he believed culminated into the success of the project.
He commended the doggedness of the participants of the first batch of the training for staying through to the end. The Project Coordinator disclosed that there are plans for advanced training for the 21 successful master training graduands, this, he said would be communicated to them in due course.