Oyo State Mineral Development Agency Shines at Nigerian Mining and Geoscience Society Conference
…DG OYSMDA Appreciates Gov Makinde for Support
The city of Jos, popularly known as the Tin City, played host to the 59th Annual Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Mining and Geoscience Society (NMGS) from March 17-22, 2024.
This year’s conference, themed “Emerging Global Perspectives, Trends, and Sustainable Development of Minerals and Energy Resources,” saw Oyo State’s Mineral Development Agency and Pacesetter Mineral Development Company Limited participating in full force.
The Oyo State delegation, led by the Director-General of the Mineral Development Agency, Okunrin Jeje Abiodun Oni, joined geoscientists and mining engineers from around the world in addressing issues related to mineral resources, geology, and mining.
The week-long conference was opened by Plateau State Governor, who was accompanied by the state’s Commissioner of Solid Minerals and the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office representing the Minister of Solid Minerals.
One of the key highlights of the event for Oyo State was the conferment of the prestigious fellowship of the Nigerian Mining and Geoscience Society award on deserving and qualified members. Out of the 36 states in the federation, 14 fellowship awards were conferred this year, with three of them being from Oyo State.
In his brief remarks with journalists at the conference, the Director-General and Executive Chairman Oyo State Pacesetter Mineral Department Company, Okunrin Jeje Abiodun Oni on behalf of staff and management of the agency, expressed his profound gratitude to His Excellency Governor Seyi Makinde for constant support whenever the need arises. Okunrin Jeje Abiodun Oni added that the Governor has redefined and repositioned the agency for optimum productivity and professionalism.
He told the gathering that Governor Seyi Makinde has always supported Geoscience Society .
Oni added that the Governor approved the state sponsorship of COMEG membership qualification for the agency, Council of Nigerian Mining Engineers and Geoscientists .
According to him, a typical example when Oyo State hosted the Geoscience Society Conference in Ibadan, Okunrin Jeje Abiodun Oni declared that Governor Seyi Makinde aside supporting the conference financial, he was present at the conference.
The three proud awardees from Oyo State, all affiliated with the Mineral Development Agency, included, Hon. Matthew Oyedokun (PhD), former Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Oyo State on Solid Minerals; Mr. Israel Olubisi Ojeyinka, former Director of Engineering Geology in the agency and now Technical Adviser to the DG; Mrs. Olufunke Omidiran, Coordinating Director of the agency.
Other geoscientists present at the conference with Hon. Abiodun Oni included Osuntoogun Abiola, the agency’s Senior Technical Officer, and Mr. Moruf Oyewola, a Chief Technical Officer in the state, who are are all members of the Ibadan chapter of NMGS.
The exceptional performance of the Oyo State Mineral Development Agency at the conference was highly commended by the organizers, emphasizing the significant potential gains of having the services of these professionals for the agency and the state at large.
