By:Von

To address the skills gap in the mining sector, eleven (11) Nigerians are now undergoing intensive technical training at the Murdoch University, Australia, with support from the Australian Government and the Australian High Commission in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, disclosed this on Sunday in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Segun Tomori.

Alake stated that one of the key outcomes of the partnership was his recent inauguration of a two-week pilot training programme for the first batch of 11 Nigerian mining professionals at the Murdoch University, Australia.

Covering areas like extractive metallurgy, sustainable geochemistry, mineral science research, and engaging directly with industry experts, the initiative—with support from the Commonwealth Government—aims to not only address skills gap in the mining sector but also deepen bilateral ties between Nigeria and Australia.

Dr Alake noted that the programme represented the realisation of a vision conceived less than two years ago.

The Minister acknowledged the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the efforts of the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Leilani Bin-Juda, in bringing the vision to life.

“I also express profound gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and the Murdoch University for opening their facilities to us so warmly.

Establishing a working relationship with a leading mining nation like Australia is crucial to strengthening bilateral ties and fostering mutually beneficial development in our mining sectors,” he said.

The Minister charged the participants to be worthy ambassadors of Nigeria and to leverage the training to enhance the country’s technical capabilities and contribute to evidence-based policy design and implementation.

In 2023, during the 22nd edition of the Africa Down Under (ADU) Conference in Perth, Australia, the Minister entered into a bilateral agreement with the Government of Western Australia through the Australian Ministry of Mines and Petroleum and Murdoch University to facilitate technical training designed to strengthen the expertise of Nigerian mining professionals.