Miners commend Tinubu’s reappointment of Fatima Umaru as SMDF executive secretary

By Abubakar Yunusa

The Association of Small Scale Miners of Nigeria, Zamfara State Chapter, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for reappointing Hajia Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi as the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund/Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative (SMDF/PAGMI).

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Rabiu, and shared with the press on Friday, the association described the reappointment as “well-considered” and a step towards consolidating and strengthening Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

The statement extended warm congratulations to Umaru-Shinkafi and urged her to live up to the confidence placed in her by Nigerians and President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to foster a prosperous, equitable, and democratic nation.

The association lauded Umaru-Shinkafi’s dedication and efforts in advancing the solid minerals sector, noting her role in attracting foreign investors, empowering local miners, and creating jobs for thousands of Nigerian youths.

“Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi has contributed significantly to Nigeria’s GDP and has proven to be a paragon of excellence,” the statement said.

The group also praised Tinubu’s commitment to gender inclusivity, emphasizing that the reappointment fulfills his campaign promise to prioritize the appointment of women into key leadership positions.

The association expressed strong support for Umaru-Shinkafi’s leadership and urged Nigerians to rally behind her in achieving the vision of a better economy and improved democratic dividends for all citizens.

“We urge Nigerians to support this woman of destiny in our collective quest for a better society,” the statement concluded, calling her a “great Amazon of the solid minerals sector.”