BREAKING: Alake Endorses Africa’s First Department Of Gemology And Gemstones At Yakubu Gowon University
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has thrown his full weight behind the newly established Department of Gemology and Gemstones at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja the first academic department dedicated to gemology in Africa.......➡️CONTINUE READING THE FULL ARTICLES HERE.
Receiving a delegation from the university, led by the department’s pioneer coordinator, Prof. Adesoji Adesugba, Dr. Alake described the initiative as a visionary move that aligns with the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to deepen capacity building and local expertise within Nigeria’s mining sector.
“This is a historic milestone,” the minister said. “By establishing a formal academic framework for gemology and gemstone studies, Yakubu Gowon University is laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development of Nigeria’s mineral value chain.”
He noted that the department will play a crucial role in grooming professionals in gemstone identification, valuation, and jewelry production skills essential to maximizing the country’s vast but underutilized mineral resources.
Prof. Adesugba, in his remarks, commended Dr. Alake for his transformative leadership and reform-driven agenda, which has repositioned the mining sector for growth.
He called for the Ministry’s support in facilitating an academic partnership with the Gemological Institute of Nigeria, stressing that such collaboration would strengthen the department’s curriculum and research capacity.
In response, Dr. Alake pledged full support for the proposed affiliation, describing it as “a step in the right direction.” He urged other universities to take a cue from Yakubu Gowon University by introducing mining-focused courses that respond to national needs.
“If we must achieve sustainable progress in mining, we must start by investing in human capital. The establishment of this department is a strategic intervention, and we are also working toward the creation of full-fledged universities of mining across the country,” he said.
Accompanying Prof. Adesugba on the courtesy visit were Prof. Aminu Dankishiya, Dean of the Faculty of Science; Dr. Tinuke Temitope, Registrar of the Gemological Institute of Nigeria; and Dr. Aminu Isyaku, Head of the Department of Geology and Mining, among others.