The Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has called for increased value addition, skills development and compliance with international standards to boost Nigeria’s solid minerals exports.

Samson Idowu, director of the Solid Minerals Department of NEPC, made the call while presenting a paper titled ‘The Impact of Solid Minerals Exports on National Development’ at the 11th Nigeria Mining Week on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Idowu emphasised the need for Nigeria to move beyond exporting raw minerals by investing in local processing to increase foreign exchange earnings, create jobs and improve the competitiveness of its mineral products.

He said NEPC was promoting capacity building for exporters through training on standards, export documentation and other compliance requirements necessary to access international markets.

He said the council reached more than 97,000 people across the export value chain through 728 capacity-building programmes in 2025, including in the solid minerals sector.

The programmes, he said, covered export documentation, quality standards, packaging, labelling, mentorship and other areas aimed at improving the capacity of businesses to participate in international trade.

Mr Idowu stressed the importance of value addition, saying local processing of mineral resources would create employment opportunities and enable Nigeria to retain more economic benefits from its natural resources.

He also called for the adoption of digital technologies to improve mining operations, strengthen business processes and create opportunities for engineers and other professionals in the sector.

The NEPC director emphasised the need to promote women’s participation in mining and strengthen their access to technology, training and business opportunities.

“Formalising artisanal and small-scale mining operations through registration and cooperative structures will help miners access institutional support and participate more effectively in the export market,” he said.

Mr Idowu also highlighted the importance of maintaining cordial relationships with host communities and adopting appropriate technologies to promote responsible and sustainable mining practices.

He called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, mining operators and other stakeholders to improve regional trade, coordinate relevant policies and expand access to international markets.

“Compliance with regulations, transparent business practices and sustainable mining operations are essential to building investor confidence and improving Nigeria’s position in global mineral markets,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to work together to develop a competitive solid minerals sector capable of generating foreign exchange, creating jobs and contributing to economic diversification.

The 11th Nigeria Mining Week focused on the theme ‘Unlocking Investment and Growth through Partnerships’.

The conference was organised by the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). 

(NAN)