By Zacchaeus Ozovehe.
In order to deepen grassroots involvement in legal mining activities in Kogi State especially among women folks, the chairman of Kogi State Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO), Hajia Hassiat Ozavize Suleiman hosted executive members of a newly formed Okehi Mining Cooperative Society.
The women were unanimous in their decision to take active role in mineral exploration in the state given the necessary conducive environment and leverage the state government led by Governor Yahaya Bello has provided.
While addressing the executives of the Cooperative in her office recently, Hajia Hassiat revealed that the state government in partnership with Federal Government has evolved modalities in which interested members would be given take off grants to embark on mineral exploration and exploitation.
Hajia Hassiat however encouraged other women and youths across the state to show interest in mining sector by forming mining cooperative groups in order to jointly access license for legal mining exercises.
The leader of the Cooperative, Mrs Aisha Akpata Jummai who appreciated Kogi State Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello for ameliorating the plight of the women through creative engagement, said their interest in mining sector were aroused through consistent awareness programme MIREMCO has executed since 2017 when it was inaugurated.
She said members of Okehi Mining Cooperative Society would make judicious use of the grant for its purpose when it is released, just as they pledged their unflinching support for the continuity of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration in the forthcoming general election.
