By joshua GEGU’S GIFT TO KOGI: HOW HEART AND ACTION ARE RESHAPING SOLID MINERALS
Bashiru Gegu
…Commissioner Bashiru Gegu prioritizes communities, youth, women in mineral sector reform
By Abu Micheal
Engr. Bashiru Gegu, Kogi State Commissioner for Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, is fast rewriting the playbook for public service in the sector. With a people-first approach, he is moving the state away from years of mismanaged resources and exclusionary practices toward a model built on transparency, accountability, and community benefit.
Since assuming office, Gegu has audited existing projects, cancelled non-performing contracts, and deliberately opened space for local entrepreneurs and cooperatives to participate in the mining value chain.
“We are here to ensure every mineral extracted benefits the community that hosts it,” he declared during a recent town hall meeting with stakeholders across the state.
Youth and women have become the centrepiece of his reforms. In just eight months, over 1,200 young people have been employed in skilled roles across mining sites and processing plants. A ₦150 million fund has also been set aside to support women’s groups engaged in mineral processing, while 5% of all royalties generated are channeled directly into community development projects in host communities.
Gegu’s leadership style is defined by transparency and direct engagement. He holds weekly “visits to mining locations” where he meets workers, addresses operational concerns, and takes swift corrective action. That same empathy extends to personal interventions, from paying hospital bills for injured miners to sponsoring the education of orphans affected by mining activities.
Within the APC, the Commissioner is credited with building a merit-based party structure that has boosted grassroots participation by 30%. His approach is being described as a breath of fresh air in a region where mineral wealth has often triggered conflict rather than development.
By blending governance with engagement and empathy, Engr. Bashiru Gegu is offering Kogi a model of public service that puts people over patronage. For a state rich in solid minerals but long plagued by neglect, his inclusive approach may prove to be the key to lasting peace and shared prosperity.