Minerals Exploration: Minister Seeks Universities Collaborative Action

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By; SANI ALIYU, Zaria

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Kayode Fayemi has called for holistic Universities’ collaborative efforts to explore Nigeria’s abundant mineral resources across the nation.

He made the call at the Golden Jubilee celebration of Geology Department of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), (1967-2017) held at the Assembly Hall of the institution, Samaru, Zaria.

The golden jubilee celebration was organised to honour the founding father of ABU Geology Department, late Dr John Right.

The minister, who was represented by one of the Directors in the ministry, Mr Patrick Ojeka, observed that geologists and scientists have a major role to play toward the development of Nigeria.

“Nigeria as a nation is blessed with natural resources, we need to assiduously work hard to be able to ascertain the resource reserve of the nation.

According to the Minister Nigeria have 44 mineral types occurring across the country, equally, every local government is blessed with one mineral or the other.

He said Nigeria needs to look deeply into strengthening the collaborative work carrying detailed research to now determine and quantify what we have.

While encouraging the young undergraduate students to be focused in their studies and to be driven by the zeal in them to attain pentacle.

In his speech, the  Vice-Chancellor, Ahmadu Bello University, Prof. Ibrahim Garba identified Patricia Macury, Cornelius Cockbey, Mama Ajakaye, Umar Rahman, Bisi Ajibade and Dada S. S. as famous names in the development of geology in Nigeria.
He recalled that late Dr John Right died in 2014 at the age of 83 years but lived a life of great service to the development of geology in Nigeria, West Africa and the world at large.

Prof Garba said,during his life time at ABU, between 1967 and 1970, he pioneered the establishment and development of geology as a programme and later as a full fledged department by 1969.

“John Right was joined by volunteer young Patricia Macury, who also registered as the first MSc. student of the department and graduated in 1970.

“Right and Macury have jointly published their work which remained fundamental to our understanding of the evolution of the Nigerian basement,” he noted.

The VC added that Macury’s published works on the Pan African Origin and Play Teutonics in Nigeria opened a new understanding of Nigerian Geology beyond imagination at that time, with little laboratories and other tools.

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