Women for Women International, Zamfara State Chapter, has congratulated the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Hajiya Fatima Umaru-Shinkafi, on her conferment with the Honorary Fellowship of the Nigerian Society of Economic Geologists (NSEG), citing the SMDF-EMERGE initiative and a reported $1.3 billion alumina refinery deal among the developments under her leadership.
In a congratulatory statement, the group described Shinkafi as a woman of uncommon strength whose intellect, patriotism and ability to mobilise human and economic resources had enabled her to introduce initiatives aimed at addressing longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s mining sector.
“We are women and we are very proud of her,” the organisation said, noting that the SMDF introduced several initiatives in 2026, including the Early-Stage Mineral Exploration and Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE) and the reported $1.3 billion alumina refinery deal involving the Federal Government and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).
The group described EMERGE as a significant intervention designed to address funding gaps across the mining value chain, adding that its grants to private-sector operators could accelerate the development of the industry.
It said the initiative was structured to support mineral exploration, research and development, capacity building and mining education, including assistance for geologists, researchers and academic institutions.
According to the organisation, the programme could strengthen indigenous expertise, improve exploration techniques and bridge the gap between academic research and practical mining operations.
It added that the initiative was also expected to help indigenous mining companies access the equipment, technology and technical expertise required to improve productivity and compete more effectively with international operators.
The group further cited the reported $1.3 billion agreement involving the Federal Government and AFC, facilitated through the SMDF, for a proposed alumina refinery and nationwide mineral exploration.
It said the proposed investments could strengthen Nigeria’s mineral processing capacity, improve geological data and create opportunities for local processing of mineral resources rather than continued reliance on exports of unprocessed materials.
Women for Women also commended Shinkafi’s efforts to mobilise funding through development finance institutions and other partnerships, noting that sustained financing was critical to exploration, research and the development of commercially viable mineral deposits.
The organisation said her leadership had demonstrated the importance of addressing structural funding and technical constraints in the mining industry.
It also praised her commitment to women’s empowerment and sustainable mineral development, particularly in Zamfara State, where mining remains an important economic activity.
The group said Shinkafi’s recognition by NSEG underscored the importance of collaboration between institutional financing, geological research and technical expertise in developing Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
