By Martha Agas
The Executive Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi, has acquired an honorary fellowship award from the Nigerian Society of Economic Geologists (NSEG) for her contributions to geosciences and Nigeria’s stable minerals sector.
In a press release issued on Monday in Abuja, SMDF’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mrs Idowu Jokpeyibo, stated the award was offered on the opening ceremony of NSEG’s fifth Annual International Conference in Kaduna.
Jokpeyibo stated Shinkafi was elected into the Class of Honorary Fellows, following a choice by the Society’s Council at its eightieth assembly held on Sept. 26, 2026.
The recognition, she stated, underscored the worth {of professional} collaboration in advancing mineral exploration and the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s stable minerals sector.
“The recognition highlights the importance of collaboration between institutions that finance the mining sector and geoscience professionals whose expertise supports mineral discovery, resource assessment and sustainable development,” she stated.
She stated that below Shinkafi’s management, SMDF had continued to facilitate financing for Nigeria’s mining sector, specializing in mineral exploration, analysis, funding mobilisation and the sustainable growth of the nation’s mineral assets.
A key intervention, she stated, was the Early-Stage Mineral Exploration and Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE), an SMDF-funded programme designed to supply funding for early-stage mineral exploration, crucial minerals growth, analysis and growth.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) remembers that the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, unveiled the EMERGE Programme on June 10 to fund mineral exploration and analysis by way of aggressive grants.
She stated the programme addressed financing gaps by supporting exploration and analysis initiatives at levels when they could not but appeal to typical non-public funding.
“EMERGE addresses a critical financing gap in the mining sector by supporting exploration and research initiatives at stages when projects may not yet attract conventional private investment.
“The programme aims to unlock Nigeria’s mineral potential, promote local value addition and help promising projects progress towards investment readiness.
“SMDF recognises that stronger geoscience capacity is essential to reducing exploration risks, improving geological knowledge and identifying economically viable mineral deposits.
“The fund remains committed to working with professional bodies, research institutions, government agencies, exploration companies and development partners to strengthen Nigeria’s mineral exploration ecosystem and build a more competitive mining industry,” she stated. (NAN)
Edited by Gabriel Yough
