By Jane Salihu
Kogi State Governor,Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo says his administration is determined to reclaim control of the state’s mineral wealth by training indigenous youths for careers in mining and jewellery-making, calling it a long-term strategy to fight unemployment, illegal mining and insecurity.
Governor Ododo made the remarks in Abuja while inaugurating the Kogi Youth Mining and Jewellery Craftsmanship Empowerment Programme, which trains young people in mining, gemstone processing and jewellery production.
The governor urged Kogi youths to back President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying federal youth policies are creating jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities.
“The Federal Government has embarked on several interventions that have direct bearing on the lives of many youths in Nigeria today, and this represents a radical departure from what was obtainable in the past,” he said, calling on young people to reciprocate with hard work and good conduct.
Governor Ododo said his government wants to build self-reliant entrepreneurs rather than dependence on government aid.
“We are not going to give you fish; rather, we are going to teach you how to catch fish so that you can earn a living, become financially independent and also help others around you,” he said.
Speaking to journalists after the event, Governor Ododo linked the programme to his security strategy, arguing that trained professionals unlocking Kogi’s mineral wealth would help curb illegal mining and related crime.
He said the state, which borders several major commercial centres, will not tolerate criminal activity. “Kogi State is not a safe haven for criminals, and we will never negotiate or dialogue with them,” he said.
Kogi holds deposits of gold, lithium, coal, iron ore, beryllium and gemstones, much of it untapped, the governor said, creating room for illegal operators to exploit the resources. “Our own minerals have never been fully unlocked. We have taken a deliberate decision that our own children should be trained to develop what belongs to us. By the time they complete this training, they will take control of our mineral resources, and those stealing our resources through illegal mining will have no place to operate,” he said.
He credited the Confluence University of Science and Technology with producing graduates equipped for the state’s mineral sector, and commended Malivelihood for partnering on the workforce-training.
Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Bashir Gegu called the programme as evidence of the governor’s commitment to youth empowerment and economic diversification through solid minerals, and urged participants to stay focused throughout the training.
Malivelihood Luxury Managing Director Olushola Awujuola described it as the first programme of its kind in Nigeria and West Africa, designed to shift the country from exporting raw minerals to producing finished jewellery for local and international markets.
He said the initiative drew 16,900 applications — including from Ghana, Mali and South Africa — of which 13,900 were valid; just 20 participants were selected for the pilot cohort.
“This is not the usual empowerment programme. We are building an industry,” Awujuola said, adding that trainees will spend three months studying mining, gemstone identification, jewellery design and craftsmanship before specialising within the value chain.
“If we train the right people, license them properly and enable them to process our minerals here in Nigeria, there will be less incentive for illegal mining, and the industry will contribute more meaningfully to the economy,” he said.
Beneficiary Omachi Chubiojo Faith, of Ofu Local Government Area, thanked the state government and said participants bear responsibility for sustaining the programme’s impact.
“This is an investment in our future. We must grow what has been entrusted to us, put the knowledge into productive use and also train others so that the benefits spread across our communities,” she said.
Officials describe the programme as a pilot for building a skilled indigenous workforce that can turn Kogi’s mineral wealth into lasting economic opportunity while supporting broader efforts to fight illegal mining, create jobs and strengthen security across the state.
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