By Martha Agas
The Executive Secretary, Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi, has obtained an honorary fellowship award from the Nigerian Society of Economic Geologists (NSEG) for her contributions to geosciences and Nigeria’s stable minerals sector.
In an announcement issued on Monday in Abuja, SMDF’s Head of Corporate Communications, Mrs Idowu Jokpeyibo, mentioned the award was offered on the opening ceremony of NSEG’s fifth Annual International Conference in Kaduna.
Jokpeyibo mentioned Shinkafi was elected into the Class of Honorary Fellows, following a call by the Society’s Council at its eightieth assembly held on Sept. 26, 2026.
The recognition, she mentioned, underscored the worth {of professional} collaboration in advancing mineral exploration and the sustainable improvement 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 mentioned.
She mentioned that underneath Shinkafi’s management, SMDF had continued to facilitate financing for Nigeria’s mining sector, specializing in mineral exploration, analysis, funding mobilisation and the sustainable improvement of the nation’s mineral assets.
A key intervention, she mentioned, was the Early-Stage Mineral Exploration and Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE), an SMDF-funded programme designed to offer funding for early-stage mineral exploration, essential minerals improvement, analysis and improvement.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recollects 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 mentioned the programme addressed financing gaps by supporting exploration and analysis tasks at levels when they might not but appeal to standard personal 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 mentioned. (NAN)
Edited by Gabriel Yough
