The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has called on Obafemi Awolowo University to use its mineral resources and academic expertise to create a world-class centre of mining excellence.

He made the appeal while receiving a delegation from the university’s Governing Council in Abuja.

Alake said the proposed centre should help close the gap between classroom knowledge and the practical work of extracting and processing minerals. He noted that the commercial value of the minerals available to the university could help reduce its reliance on government funding.

The minister encouraged the institution to partner with private investors to develop its mineral assets. He explained that the university could enter joint ventures in which investors provide capital and equipment while the school earns revenue and its experts serve as consultants.

Alake stressed that while the university owns the land, the mineral resources beneath it belong to the Federal Government under the Constitution and mining laws. He said any exploration and development must follow the proper legal process and create benefits for both sides.

He praised OAU for its long record of training geologists and other professionals for Nigeria’s mining industry. The minister urged the university to play a bigger role in research, innovation and turning knowledge into practical economic value for the country.

Photo credit: Punch Newspaper