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AKS POST COVID-19 ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION: Exploring Solid Minerals as a viable alternative source of Revenue for Akwa Ibom State.
AKS POST COVID-19 ECONOMIC RECONSTRUCTION: Exploring Solid Minerals as a viable alternative source of Revenue for Akwa Ibom State.
Ime Uwah
Following the efforts of His Excellency Governor Udom Emmanuel, to seek alternative sources of revenue for Akwa Ibom State, the Chairman of the Post Covid-19 Economic Reconstruction Implementation committee (ERIMC), Professor Akpan Ekpo, today met with the Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, with a view to unlocking opportunities in the state’s solid mineral space.
Akwa Ibom State is blessed with Solid Mineral Resources such as Clay of various types, Silica/Glass Sand, gravels, limestone, laterite, Uranium, Salt, etc. and if fully developed, will create massive job opportunities as well as immense revenue for the State.
The Chairman solicited the support of the Federal Ministry in the following areas:
=> Validation of the commercial nature of minerals in Akwa Ibom state.
=> Inclusion of Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria’s geo-data system in order to make the Sector attractive to investors
=> Carrying out extensive surveys through various geological surveys in collaboration with the Government of Akwa Ibom State to further discover other mineral deposits that may be present in commercial quantities in the State.
=> Capacity building and training of staff.
The Honorable Minister was very appreciative of the interest of the State and assured the team that Akwa Ibom State would be included in the second phase of Nigeria’s geological survey. He also accepted an invitation to visit His Excellency, Governor Udom Emmanuel soon to discuss further collaborative opportunities in this area.
Prof Ekpo was accompanied by Chief Uno Uno, Hon. commissioner for Transport and Solid Minerals, Udom Inoyo, Member, AKS Economic Reconstruction Implementation committee ), Professor ( Engr) Linus Asuquo (DG, National Metallurgical Development center) and Emem Ibokette, Director Solid Minerals, Akwa Ibom state Ministry of Transport and Solid minerals.
THE GIANT STRIDES OF ENGR. PROF. LINUS ASUQUO AT NMDC, JOS
ENGR. PROF. ASUQUO IS CHANGING THE FACE OF NMDC, JOS
DG/CE of DICON Visits NMDC Jos on 8th July, 2020
The Director General of Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria [DICON] Major General Victor Ezugwu visited his counterpart Engr, Prof. Linus O. Asuquo of the National Metallurgical Development Centre [NMDC], Jos where they share ideas and in preparation for signing an MoU.
MINISTRY OF MINES & STEEL DEVELOPMENT HOLDS STAKEHOLDERS' FORUM AT NMDC, JOS
2nd Nigeria Metallurgical Industry Stakeholders' Forum [MISF] [Engagement North Central Zone] with the theme: REPOSITIONING THE NIGERIA MINERALS AND METALS SECTOR INTO A DESTINATION FOR JOB CREATION AND NATIONAL PROSPERITY was held Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th June 2019 at the Conference Hall of National Metallurgical Development Centre [NMDC], Jos. The program was well attended by several stakeholders drawn from the Academia, Miners, Technocrats, etc across the North Central Zone.
Several well-researched papers were delivered by presenters to press forward the need for the government to make their promise of diversification of the economy from oil to developing other sectors like the Solid Minerals sector to create wealth and jobs for the teaming unemployed citizens a reality.
MINISTRY OF MINES & AND STEEL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZES A SEND-FORTH CEREMONY FOR THE HON. MINISTER OF STATE
The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development organizes a send - forth ceremony for the Hon. Minister for State, Hon. Abubakar Bawa Bwari
TACKLING CHALLENGES IN NMDC: DG SOLICITS CONTINUED SUPPORT OF THE MINISTRY
The Director General and Chief Executive of National Metallurgical Development Centre (NMDC), Jos. Engr. Prof. Linus Okon Asuquo has solicited for the continued support of the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in tackling the challenges facing the Centre.
Prof. Asuquo made the appeal in his welcome address during the visit of the Honourable Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Abubakar Bawa Bwari to the Centre on the 9th of May 2019 to commission completed projects and inspect on-going renovation and expansion work at the Centre.
“Let me at this junction, express our sincere appreciation to the President and Commander-in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR for giving me the opportunity to serve the nation and the Hon. Minister, the Permanent Secretary and other Management staff of the Ministry for the support NMDC is receiving in the discharge of its responsibilities” he recalled.
“I want to solicit for the continuation of his support to enable us tackle the numerous challenges the Centre is facing in the day to day conduct of its mandated activities and the completion of on-going projects, especially the Electric Arc Furnace projects which are critical in advanced ferrous metals research” Prof. Asoquo appealed.
Prof. Asoquo stated that the appeal became necessary, especially as the Centre’s overhead and capital allocations were insufficient to address the many challenges of the Centre.
The DG/CE recalled that on assumption of office in July 2018, he was confronted with the challenges of inability of the previous administration to pay the outsourced security and cleaning staff, backlog of staff claims, lack of staff welfare and promotion, and broken down research equipment amongst others.
However, he pointed out that significant progress had been made in addressing the challenges, adding that promotion and issues associated with incorrect career progression had been addressed.
He stated that the challenges of security, sanitation, staff identification, vehicle pass and security lighting system had also been addressed.
The DG revealed that within the period under review, the Centre acquired and installed 500KVA standby Generator, Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometer (MP-AES), two power plants and took delivery of a Toyota Hilux Truck.
The Chief Executive named other achievements of his administration to include the renovation and expansion of the Centre’s Conference Hall with “state of the art” facilities and a Media Centre.
Prof. Asoquo further stated that the Centre needs about N 126 Million to fix about 60 percent of the broken down equipment, while a quotation for the reactivation of the two Electric Arc Furnace was being awaited.
Responding, the Hon. Minster Alhaji Bwari stated that NMDC as a research establishment remains central to government’s efforts at diversifying the economy because it provides the critical research and development work needed for value addition in the mineral and metal processing and production chains.
He said that with the acquisition and installation of modern machines and equipment in addition to the improvement in the power supply in the Centre, and the renovation of the laboratories and Conference Hall, NMDC’s capacity to contribute enormously to the growth of minerals and metal sector had been significantly enhanced.
The Minster particularly commended the DG/CE of the Centre, Prof. Asuquo for his giant strides and the leadership he is providing to take NMDC to the next level.
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the Centre’s Board of Directors, Dr. Sebastine Ibezim informed the Ministry that since the assumption of the Board and the DG/CE last year, significant progress had been made in all areas of the Centre’s activities and operations.
Dr. Ibezim disclosed that the progress recorded in the Centre so far wouldn’t have been possible without the support and the assistance of the Hon. Minister and the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, adding that a number of the projects being commissioned were funded through the Solid Minerals Intervention Fund.
Ucheji Nwancho
P R O, NMDC
MMSD Stakeholders' Forum
NMDC GETS A NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL/CHIEF EXECUTIVE
INAUGURATION OF NMDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The National Metallurgical Development Centre, Jos now has a Board of Directors to facilitate developmental activities at the Centre.
The eleven (11) member board headed by Dr. Sebastian O. Ibezim, Jr. Esq. is drawn from different professions made up of men who have made their marks in their areas of endeavor. The inauguration took place on the 12th of March, 2018.
LIST OF MEMBERS OF NMDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
| MEMBERS OF NMDC BOARD OF DIRECTORS | DESIGNATION | |
|---|---|---|
| SEBASTIAN O. IBEZIM, Jr. Esq | CHAIRMAN | |
| PROF. LINUS O. ASUQUO | MEMBER | |
| VICTOR O. IHEBINIKE | MEMBER | |
| CHIEF LANRE ADESINA | MEMBER | |
| KAYODE A. OBASA | MEMBER | |
| CHRISTOPHER GABRIEL | MEMBER | |
| KAMORU O. YUSUF | MEMBER | |
| DADA ADEKUNLE | MEMBER | |
| SULEIMAN ABDUL-AKABA | MEMBER | |
| OLASUPO M. KOLAWOLE | MEMBER | |
| PRINCE MARTINS BISONG | MEMBER |
GIANT STRIDES OF ENGR. PROF. ASUQUO ......His three months in NMDC
The new Director General and Chief Executive of the National Metallurgical Development Centre, Jos, Engr. Prof. Linus Okon Asuquo is committed to the total transformation of the Centre to enable it assume its leadership role in the metallurgical and steel sector of the economy. This is by providing the enabling environment for increased research and development activities in the Centre.
On assumption of office on the 31st of July 2018, the DG/CE, Prof. Asuquo hinted while addressing the Management and staff of the establishment that his administration would strive to tackle head-on all the challenges militating against growth and development in the Centre.
First, were the issues of administrative challenges which have persisted over the years in the Centre. Prof. Asuquo after a few weeks of thorough study and analysis of the issues, including staff strength and capacity, effected some restructuring/re-organization and redeployment of some staff. Central to this was the need to strengthen the Centre’s Management for more effective, efficient and result oriented administration. The Centre’s Board of Directors, headed by Barr. Sabastine Ibezim at its recent meeting gave credence to the development as they adopted and approved the re-organization and redeployments.
Another was the issue of security which hitherto was a major challenge in the Centre. As a quick fix, Prof. Asuquo embarked on expansive tour of the security agencies in the state, including the police, Directorate of State Security Service [DSS], and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps [NSCDC].
A breakdown of the visits show that Prof. Asuquo visited the immediate past Commissioner of Police, Plateau state, CP Undie Adie on the 17th of August, 2018, and on the 18th of October, 2018, he paid a courtesy visit to the Directorate of State Security Service in Plateau state. Also, within the period under review, the DG/CE visited the leadership of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps [NSCDC] in the state.
It is heartwarming to state that each of the agencies has expressed their willingness to partner with NMDC to boost and promote total security in the Centre.
In a related development, Prof. Asuquo on the 29th of August, 2018 paid a courtesy visit to Gbong Gwom Jos and the chairman , Plateau state Traditional Council of Chiefs, Da Jacob Gyang Buba to solicit the royal blessings and goodwill of His Royal Majesty in the administration of the Centre. The DG/CE further used the opportunity to canvass for enhanced relationship between the Centre and the host communities.
In addition, Prof. Asuquo is working to resuscitate all moribund partnership and collaborations between the Centre and other institutions including national and internal agencies, public and private institutions. To this effect, the DG/CE on the 23rd of October, 2018 paid courtesy visit to the Rector of the Plateau state Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi.
The theme of the visit is the promotion of inter agencies collaboration, especially in the areas of human capacity building and the advancement of research and development. The Director General and Chief Executive also plans to pay similar visits to the University of Jos, the Industrial Training Fund among others.
Meanwhile the DG/CE has started the process of upgrading the Centre’s existing facilities, including the acquisition of modern machines and equipment
- UCHEJI NWANCHO [ANIPR]
- PULIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
- NMDC, JOS 03/12/2018.
About Us
National Metallurgical Development Centre [NMDC], Jos established by Act 50 of 1992, is a Research and Development organization with the mandate to carry out research and development activities for the Metallurgical and allied industries for the development of the nation’s solid minerals sector.