FG, Women in Mining set GGCE 2025 agenda, push gemstone, jewellery branding

The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has formally flagged off preparations for the Gold and Gemstone Conference and Exhibition, (GGCE 2025), with a renewed commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s position in the global gemstone and jewellery value chain.

GGCE 2025, themed: ‘Accelerating Collaboration for Sustainable Gold and Gemstone Development in Africa’ is organised by the Women in Mining in Nigeria in partnership with the African Mineral Development Centre (AMDC) an agency of the African Union (AU).

The Conference will take place November 25th-28th in Lagos and will feature exhibitions, sales, design showcases, technical sessions, youth engagements and international buyers.

Speaking at a pre-event press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Dele Alake, minister of Solid Minerals Development, represented by Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi, executive secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), said the conference has grown into one of the ministry’s most strategic annual engagements, driving value addition, transparency, and branding for Nigerian minerals.

Alake said GGCE 2025 aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reform agenda for the mining sector, which includes accelerating geological data acquisition, promoting local refining, supporting artisans and formalising mining communities.

“Africa holds nearly a third of the world’s mineral wealth, yet we gain very little from the global value chain,” she said.

“This conference strengthens our pathway to responsible sourcing, certification, and local manufacturing. We are branding Nigeria’s gemstones and gold, and positioning our products for global competitiveness.”

He noted that Nigeria’s unique combination of abundant gold and gemstones gives the country a comparative advantage.

“Ghana has gold; Zambia has gemstones. Nigeria has both,” he said. “This is a destination event that will continue to grow.”

In her remarks, Janet Adeyemi, president, Women in Mining Nigeria (WIMIN), charged on responsible exploitation of mineral resources, stressing that gemstones are a shared national heritage that must be utilised for the public good.
“The resources in the ground belong to all of us,” she said. “When you find a gemstone, you are holding it in trust for future generations. We are tired of abuse and neglect. All hands must be on deck to ensure resources serve the greater good of the nation.”

Adeyemi said women play a critical role—especially in the downstream sector of mining—and must be intentionally included.

“Any nation that sidelines nearly half of its population cannot grow,” she said, urging government and stakeholders to expand opportunities for women and young designers.

She narrated the origins of the Gold & Gem Conference, inspired in 2021 when a locally sourced sapphire from Taraba was showcased and later transformed abroad into a high-value piece.

“It showed how much value Nigeria loses by exporting raw stones,” she said. “Today, the crown we produced—featuring citrine from Oyo, sapphire from Taraba and gold from Osun—is worth N5 million and has become a symbol of Nigeria’s potential.”

Adeyemi urged journalists to amplify the conference and highlight its job-creation opportunities. “This sector can empower young people, preserve cultural heritage and create a thriving creative economy,” she said.

Alake assured that the ministry will continue supporting AGJEC, describing it as a branding platform capable of transforming Nigeria’s global image in gemstones and jewellery.

“This is about taking Nigeria from exporting raw materials to exporting refined, beautifully crafted products,” she said.

He also applauded the steady rise in private-sector participation and commended partners including the African Minerals and Geosciences Centre (AMGC), Titan Minerals, First Glam Nigeria Ltd., and others.