The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has urged Nigerian universities to bridge the gap between academic research and practical mineral extraction to unlock the country’s solid mineral potential.
Alake made the call in Abuja after receiving a delegation from the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, led by Professor Ralph Akinfeleye.
The minister said universities should move beyond theoretical research and translate academic knowledge into practical solutions, mining enterprises and commercial opportunities.
“The gap between intellectualism and application must be closed,” Alake said, stressing that universities should not only generate knowledge but also convert it into solutions, enterprises and economic value.
Highlighting OAU’s potential, Alake said the institution had mineral resources on its land as well as the academic expertise needed to develop them.
He urged the university to establish a centre of mining excellence and explore partnerships with private investors through joint ventures.
According to him, such partnerships could provide the capital and equipment required for mining operations while enabling the university to generate revenue and engage its experts as consultants and technical partners.
Alake said commercialising mineral resources on university-owned land could strengthen OAU’s internally generated revenue and reduce its dependence on government funding.
On the legal framework governing mineral resources, the minister explained that although universities own their land, underground mineral deposits are vested in the Federal Government under the Constitution and relevant mining laws.
“The University owns the land, but where there are mineral resources, their exploration and exploitation must still be undertaken in accordance with the law,” he said.
Alake said the government was committed to maintaining a predictable, investment-friendly regulatory environment in the mining sector while protecting legitimate interests and fulfilling its regulatory responsibilities.
He commended OAU for its contribution to the training of Nigerian geologists and urged the university to play a leading role in mineral exploration, processing and innovation.
Other members of the delegation included Ambassador Edward Sarki, Barrister Joseph Abaagu, Professor Olatunbosun Adedayo and Barrister Yinka Ayanfola.
