PwC Nigeria, an arm of the global leading professional services company PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), has assured its commitment to supporting the Nigerian government to grow the nation’s mining sector in furtherance of the current drive to diversify the economy.
The assurance was given by the country Senior Partner, Mr. Uyi Akpata, in his opening remarks at the third edition of the Nigeria Mining Week in Abuja.
Represented at the forum by the firm’s Partner and Head of Abuja office, Dr. Bert Odiaka, the country Senior Partner, explained that the company’s commitment to support the Nigerian mining sector aligns with its purpose of building trust and solving important problems in society.
Akpata explained: “I am happy and proud that our efforts to bring together stakeholders in this sector have yielded so much result. The mining week, which is now in its third year, has continued to get bigger and better with increased participation by stakeholders both from within and outside of our shores.
“At PwC, we have always advocated an increased focus on solid minerals development for sustainable economic growth in Nigeria. We have long identified the potential of this sector in diversifying the revenue base of government and creating opportunities for our people and we have demonstrated this in various thought leadership activities.
“We, however, recognise that government cannot achieve it alone and that is why we have sustained our efforts in playing our own part in the organisation of this annual gathering”, he added.
Akpata pointed out that PwC Nigeria and its partners were in the drive towards boosting mining sector contribution to the nation’s GDP “for the long term and will continue to support not only the organisation of this annual gathering of industry players but also in building capacity in the sector and helping companies invest and operate profitably in it”.
Earlier in his pre-conference remarks, the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Abubakar Bwari, disclosed that some private investors had indicated their interest to commit about N3.32 billion to some projects in the mining sector.
Bwari explained that the fund would be used to fund gold mining and refining, foundry works, lead/zinc exploration and production, tin, tantalite and columbite mining and processing.
This is even as he hinted that the ministry was making efforts address the challenges hindering formal exploitation of gold, tin and lead-zinc and also curb the indiscriminate exportation of the mineral commodities.
The Nigeria Mining Week is organised by the Miners Association of Nigeria in partnership with Spintelligent and PwC Nigeria.
