***Award recognises her contributions to geoscience, mineral exploration and Nigeria’s solid minerals development
The Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Hajiya Fatima Umaru Shinkafi, has bagged an honorary fellowship from the Nigerian Society of Economic Geologists (NSEG) in recognition of her support for the society and commitment to developing Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
Shinkafi received the Honorary Fellowship Award at the opening ceremony of the NSEG’s 5th Annual International Conference held on Monday, October 19, 2026, at Raffles Suites Hotel, Rabah Road, Kaduna.
Her election into the Class of Honorary Fellows followed a decision of the society’s council at its 80th meeting held on September 26, 2026.
The recognition highlights the growing importance of collaboration between institutions providing financial support for mining activities and geoscience professionals whose expertise is vital to mineral discovery, exploration and sustainable resource development.
Under Shinkafi’s leadership, the SMDF has continued to pursue initiatives aimed at unlocking funding for Nigeria’s mining industry, with particular emphasis on mineral exploration, research, investment mobilisation and the sustainable utilisation of the country’s mineral resources.
One of the fund’s key interventions is the Early-Stage Mineral Exploration and Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE), an SMDF-funded programme designed to provide financial support for early-stage mineral exploration, critical minerals development and research and development.
The programme is intended to tackle a major funding challenge in the mining sector by supporting exploration and research projects at their early stages, when they may struggle to attract conventional private-sector investment.
Through EMERGE, the fund seeks to unlock Nigeria’s mineral wealth, promote local value addition and help promising mining projects become ready for investment.
The SMDF also recognises that building stronger geoscience capacity is essential to reducing exploration risks, improving geological information and identifying commercially viable mineral deposits.
To achieve these objectives, the fund is committed to working with professional associations, research institutions, government agencies, exploration companies and development partners to strengthen Nigeria’s mineral exploration ecosystem.
The collaboration is expected to contribute to the development of a more competitive mining industry and support the sustainable exploitation of the country’s solid mineral resources.
The SMDF said Shinkafi’s recognition by the NSEG underscored the importance of professional collaboration in advancing mineral exploration and promoting the sustainable development of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
The announcement was signed by Idowu Jokpeyibo, Head of the Corporate Communications Department of the Solid Minerals Development Fund.
