Chamber of mines applauds Tinubu for renewing Umaru-Shinkafi’s SMDF tenure

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Nigerian Chamber of Mines and Geological Workers has applauded President Bola Tinubu’s decision to renew the tenure of Hajia Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi as the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) and the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (PAGMI).

The Chamber described the reappointment as a vote of confidence in her leadership and a step toward unlocking the potential of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

In a statement on Monday, the Chairman of the Chamber, Silas Kefas, hailed Umaru-Shinkafi as a “visionary leader and master strategist” whose reforms have attracted local and international investments while positioning Nigeria as a key player in the global minerals market.

“With her renewed mandate, we anticipate significant advancements in artisanal gold mining, value chain development, job creation, export capacity, and financial prudence. These will contribute to economic diversification and national prosperity,” Kefas said.

The Chamber commended Umaru-Shinkafi’s efforts to empower women in gemstone mining, highlighting a recent SMDF program that supported 1,000 women entrepreneurs, beginning with 100 participants in Lagos. Kefas expressed optimism that more women and youth would benefit from such initiatives, enhancing self-reliance and economic well-being.

Kefas also emphasized the importance of tackling illegal mining and improving regulatory compliance under her leadership, noting her deep understanding of the sector’s challenges and potential.

The Chamber pledged its continued partnership with SMDF and PAGMI to advance Nigeria’s solid minerals sector in alignment with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“We congratulate Hajia Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi, the great Amazon of the solid minerals sector, on her well-deserved reappointment. This marks a new chapter for the development and sustainability of SMDF/PAGMI,” the statement said .