From Cyril Mbah, Abuja.
Nigeria and Murdoch University in Western Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen knowledge transfer and professional capacity building in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
The agreement was reached on the sidelines of the Africa Down Under, ADU, 2026 conference during strategic discussions between a Nigerian delegation and the university’s management.
The Nigerian delegation was led by the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Engr. Obadiah Nkom, who represented the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr. Dele Alake.
They met with Professor Dee O’Connor, Dean of the School of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Murdoch University, and other representatives of the institution.
The engagement focused on consolidating the gains of the first two cohorts of the Nigeria–Australia Resource Industry Collaboration and Capacity Building Program.
Both parties also discussed plans for an expanded third phase that will feature stronger industry exposure, longer practical engagement, and a sharper focus on preparing Nigerian professionals to develop commercially viable mining opportunities.
Launched in June 2025, the Nigeria–Australia programme is a partnership between the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and Murdoch University.
So far, two cohorts of 11 Nigerian officials each have been trained under the initiative.
The programme combines technical, policy and leadership training with field visits, industry engagement, job shadowing, workshops and exposure to Australia’s world-class resources governance and mining ecosystem.
Speaking during the meeting, Engr. Nkom said knowledge transfer is central to Nigeria’s mining reform agenda under Minister Dele Alake.
He explained that the Minister’s vision is not only to attract capital and technology, but to ensure Nigerians acquire the expertise to deploy, manage and advance those capabilities themselves.
“Minister Dele Alake’s vision is not simply to attract capital and technology into Nigeria, but to ensure that Nigerians acquire the knowledge and expertise to deploy, manage and ultimately advance those capabilities themselves. This partnership with Murdoch University is therefore a critical investment in the people who will drive the next generation of Nigeria’s mining industry,” Nkom said.
The DG added that the proposed third cohort will introduce stronger industry immersion, internships, job-shadowing opportunities, live industry case studies, and training to develop investor-ready mining opportunities.
Professor Dee O’Connor reaffirmed Murdoch University’s commitment to the partnership. She said the university is ready to continue supporting Nigeria’s ambition to build a responsible, technically capable and globally competitive resources sector.
“We are very pleased to continue this partnership with Nigeria. Our commitment is to deepen the exchange of knowledge and experience between our institutions and to ensure that the programme continues to respond to the real needs of Nigeria’s mining sector and its people,” Professor O’Connor said.
The partnership aligns with the broader objective of the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to build a knowledge-driven mining sector.
The Ministry said the goal is to attract investment, promote responsible resource development, strengthen local expertise and drive value addition within Nigeria.
For Nigeria, the collaboration also provides a platform for sustained institutional cooperation with Australian universities, regulators, industry players and research institutions.
Officials said this will ensure that international expertise is translated into lasting Nigerian capacity.
The proposed third phase will therefore move beyond conventional professional training to focus on practical knowledge transfer and industry immersion.
It aims to develop a new cadre of Nigerian mining professionals equipped to contribute directly to exploration, project development, investment promotion, ESG compliance and downstream value addition.
