NGO wants more women participation in mining sector
Represented by Amb. Ijeoma Bristol, Adeyemi said there were many challenges that hindered women as players in the sector, in spite of the interest shown by them. She said some of the challenges include lack of access to adequate funding, inadequate mining equipment, a poor data base, discriminatory laws, and gender-based violence.
An NGO, Women in Mining in Nigeria (WIMIN), has called on the Federal Government to encourage more women's participation in the solid minerals sector through its programs.
The president of WIMIN, Engr. Janet Adeyemi, made the call at a two-day project retreat/review meeting that ended on Friday in Benin.
Adeyemi said that such programs would promote gender equality and development in the sector.
Represented by Amb. Ijeoma Bristol, Adeyemi said there were many challenges that hindered women as players in the sector, in spite of the interest shown by them.
She said some of the challenges include lack of access to adequate funding, inadequate mining equipment, a poor data base, discriminatory laws, and gender-based violence.
Adeyemi said the retreat was to appraise some of the achievements and challenges.
She urged the government to be more committed to women's economic empowerment in the sector.
Adeyemi said the NGO, through its collaboration with the Ford Foundation, had taken some initiatives, in spite of the glaring challenges, to drive the growth process.
According to her, the NGO encourages the establishment of mining clubs for girls in institutions to increase awareness and develop a leadership mindset through mentoring.
"WIMIN has entered into a partnership with the Nigerian Human Rights Commission to address gender and child rights abuses in host mining communities.
"Thus, mobile apps are being developed where such incidents in host mining communities can be streamed live and reported simultaneously to the NHRC for immediate follow-up," she said.
The State Coordinator of WIMIN, Mrs. Jennifer Nomamidobo, thanked the national body for the retreat.
She said that more women in the state had been encouraged to come into the industry.
Nomamidobo attributed the renewed interest to the well-coordinated activities of the national body, WIMIN.
She urged men not to see women's involvement in the trade as competition but as one of many partners in growing the industry.