Laura Cornish, a group director of Mining and Editor-In-Chief of Africa Review spoke frankly with The Rock Post crew in this exclusive interview.
Excerpts:
A synoptic historical overview of Nigerian Mining Week.
Nigeria Mining Week (NMW) was first launched in 2016 and has grown in scale every year. Not deterred by Covid-19, our event continued to connect with our stakeholders through digital events over 2020 and 2021 and both were very successful. The event is a reflection of the growth in Nigeria’s mining sector and the increasing interest from investors to take the country seriously. NMW is a Miners Association of Nigeria Event, delivered with full support and hosted by the Mines and Steel Development ministry – organized by VUKA Group.
What would you say have been the major benefit of the event to Nigeria?
Nigeria has never been a particularly prominent investment jurisdiction for mining – but NMW’s sole purpose, to focus on the reasons why this country should be considered an investment-friendly destination, has put the country in the spotlight. Through this event, we draw all key Nigerian mining stakeholders together, alongside potential investors and supporting technology providers to share and engage in dialogue about the country’s mining potential – what is needed to develop it – and providing education that clarifies misperceptions about the country.
Has international participation improved and what is responsible for that?
Yes, in 2022 we see the greater international interest and participation we’ve seen since the launch. This as explained above – is due to the event’s ongoing drive to showcase the country to the global investment community.
Please compare the Nigeria Mining Week with other mining events in Africa.
Every mining event in Africa has its place and purpose so it’s difficult to compare. What I can say is that NMW is so successful because it is hosted in collaboration with ministry and MAN – they are the drawcard in bringing investors and miners to the event and this ensures the most topical and relevant content is discussed and shared.
Is there any specific package targeted at small scale miners and juniors to access international funding’s?
Small scale miners and juniors are a crucial component of Nigeria’s mining sector and they are a key target group for NMW. This is especially true because many of them are MAN members. Where relevant, NMW does offer specifically catered packages that align with their needs and affordability which encourages them to attend and participate at NMW. This is also a topic that will be discussed at part of the NMW programme. The Nigerian mining ministry is extremely proactive in building this sector and assisting them to be commercially competitive and this is an area of excellence which we will be highlighting this year.
From the event’s experience and perspective, is there any prospect for a mining boom in the future?
There is definitely a potential mining boom in Nigeria – predominantly because the country hosts many technology/clean minerals such as lithium and cobalt – which is needed to fuel the growing electric vehicle and battery storage markets. This is another topic that will feature at this year’s event – unpacking the potential Nigeria has to offer in terms of these minerals and how they can help contribute to global demand. Beyond Nigeria, this global requirement will continue to drive a potential mining boom moving forward, perhaps specifically for these metals and not the entire industry.
From a continental perspective, what do you consider responsible for the lack of interest of major mining in Nigeria?
Nigeria suffers a lot of misperception from the international market – particularly with regards to security, safety and a lack of clarity around legislation. But no country in Africa is without challenges, in fact, no country globally is without challenges. And as I said, a lot of this is misperception. NMW will continue to drive and provide clarity in these areas to help driving further interest in Nigeria.
How can the event support technical and financial matchmaking to benefit mostly artisans and small scale?
One of NMW’s core goals is matchmaking – that is the purpose of the exhibition. We have many exhibitors attending with technologies that cater specifically to ASM’s needs. Ministry also plays a role in assisting in this regard – both technically and financially. The ministry has a large exhibition stand at the event and this group of miners can engage directly with ministry in relation to both areas.
Give us a crystal ball view into what is to come at this year’s event.
The mining industry has shown a preference for live events, and we don’t expect this to be any different for NMW. The event will be hosted in the much larger International Conference Center which will demonstrate the increasing interest from participants to attend. We have a fantastic programme that highlights the sector’s mining wins and achievements – something we wanted to focus on ahead of the 2023 election year. We expect this to be our most successful NMW year ever.
