By joshua 
CONFLUENCE STATE (KOGI) HOSTS THE METALS AND MINING ENGINEERS TO THEIR CONFERENCE
It was a momentous occasion as the Nigerian Institution of Metallurgical, Mining and Materials Engineers (NIMMME) a Division of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) held its International Conference tagged “3M International Conference – KOGI ‘25”.
The activities took place in various towns of Kogi State and the “3M” stands for Metallurgical, Mining and Materials Engineering Professions/Disciplines, which are interrelated.
The Conference opening ceremony kicked off with the arrival of the Governor of Kogi State Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo who was duly represented by the Deputy Governor of Kogi State Mr. Joel Oyibo Salifu.
In his speech, the Governor reiterated that Kogi is famous for Iron Ore, which attracted the Ajaokuta Steel plant, Limestone which brought Dangote Cement , Granite, Marble, Coal and a total of 33 solid minerals in commercial quantity. The Keynote Speech was undertaken by the Honorable Minister, Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development Dr. Dele Alake duly represented by the Director General of the Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Abuja Engr. Dr. Obadiah Nkom and he spoke on the various efforts of the Ministry to enhance investor participation in the various Solid mineral deposits and value addition in Nigeria. The Lead Paper Presenter was Prof Toyin Ashiru, Pro-Chancellor of the Olabisi Onabanjo University in Ogun State, a Fellow of NIMMME and a renowned Engineer and businessman. Speaking on the opportunities available to grow the economy, business and the engineering field he explained to the crowd that Nigeria was significantly underperforming in economic benefits from Solid Minerals with the sector contributing about 0.6% to the GDP while in Ghana the sector contributes 25% to the Gross Domestic Product.
Other key persons who graced the Conference were the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers Engr Margaret Aina Oguntala ably represented by Engr Abraham Aghadike, The Managing Director of the Kaduna Mining Development Company (KMDC) Engr Shuaibu Kabir Bello who delivered a Guest Lecture, Prof Oluwasegun Ige, the Director General of the Nigerian Hydrological Survey Agency (NGSA), Abuja who was represented by Dr. Julius Kwache. The Host Organization also had her key members on ground during the conference such as Prof Abdulrahaman Asipita Salawu, National Chairman NIMMME, Engr Michael Orekyeh Chairman of the Conference Central Working Committee and National Vice Chairman, Engr Dr. Mohammed Adamu Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, all members of the EXCO, Prof Aje Tokan (Immediate Past Chairman), Prof AGF Alabi (Past Chairman) several members and nonmembers from far and wide (including those who participated on line) who are in the public and private sector, in industry, academics, research, business and other fields. 21 papers were presented physically and online. There was also an event to attract students for deeper participation in 3M activities called the Dr. Friday Ichifu Apeh Students Essay Competition and named after the Late Engr Friday Apeh a Past National Chairman. The students were awarded cash prizes of 1st Prize of N 250,000 (for Federal University of Technology Minna), 2nd Prize of N 150,000 (for Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria) and 3rd Prize of N 100,000 (for a student from Air Force Institute of Technology, Kaduna). Thereafter they held their Annual General Meeting and Dinner/Social Night.
Kogi is indeed relevant to the 3M Professions and blessed with 33 different solid minerals being commercially available for mining and exploration in locations across the State. Lokoja was strategically chosen as Host city because Kogi is a powerhouse in the 3M world. It is the home of the largest Steel Industry in Africa, the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited (ASCL) which is 98% completed. In the 1st Phase of the ASCL, it was built to produce 1.3 million tonnes of steel products per annum (and increase to 5 million tonnes in the 2nd and 3rd Phases) of steel products and employ over 50,000 people on the site in phase 1 and make Nigeria an industrial powerhouse, but was never fully commissioned and remains dormant today. Kogi State is also home to the largest cement factory in Africa, the Dangote Cement Company, Obajana Plant which produces about 10 million tonnes of cement per annum. With a staff strength of over 3,500 every shift, it helps the Dangote group easily produce about 60% of all the cement consumed across Nigeria.
The Participants of the event visited both ASCL and Dangote Cement Obajana to see first-hand the activities and capabilities of these strategic industrial concerns. In both cases, the delegates from the conference met and interacted with key management staff of both concerns before going on a detailed Industrial and Facility tour and exposing them to the technologies and capacities of the two companies.
The Team also paid a Courtesy Visit to the Vice Chancellor of Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara Professor Abdulrahaman Asipita Salawu FNIMMME, who is a renowned Metallurgical Engineer and current National Chairman of NIMMME. They met with the VC and the Management team of the University. At the call it was suggested that the NIMMME is willing to enter MoU with CUSTECH to support Academic, Research, Development and Training programs and projects that will be of benefit to the two organizations.
These activities which occurred over the past few days were quite rewarding and the communique from the conference is awaited to drive national discourse and policy direction in the Metallurgical, Mining and Materials (3M) field. Till the next Conference by the organization.