The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has stressed the importance of fostering human capital and infrastructure development to fully harness Nigeria’s abundant mineral resources.
Kalu made the remarks during his lecture titled “Our Gown in Town and in Cyberspace: Sustainable and Human-Centred Education, The Mandate of Our Universities, 2025-2075” at the 37th Convocation Ceremony and 50th Anniversary of the University of Calabar, in Cross River State.
According to a statement issued by Levinus Nwabughiogu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Kalu emphasized that Nigeria’s educational system has traditionally concentrated more on theoretical disciplines, while neglecting the immense potential of the country’s natural resources.
He highlighted the rich deposits of minerals across various regions in Nigeria, noting the significant presence of tin, columbite, tantalite, and barite in the North Central region.
He also pointed out that the North West has abundant resources such as gold, granite, and limestone, while the North East is home to gypsum, kaolin, and bentonite.
Furthermore, the South West boasts valuable minerals like bitumen, feldspar, and lithium.
Despite these vast mineral reserves, Kalu noted that Nigeria continues to rely heavily on the importation of refined mineral products, which he views as a missed opportunity for economic growth.
He called for Nigerian universities to create specialized departments and collaborate with industries to offer practical training in mining, mineral processing, and extractive metallurgy, in a bid to address the skills gap in the sector.
“Building a prosperous nation requires aligning our educational system with the natural resources that can drive economic success.
Nigeria is blessed with abundant mineral deposits, yet our education system has largely ignored the importance of utilizing these resources,” Kalu remarked.
He elaborated on the regional mineral endowments, stating: “The North Central region is rich in tin, columbite, tantalite, and barite, vital for modern electronics.
“The North West offers gold, granite, and limestone, crucial for the jewelry and construction industries.
The North East contains gypsum, kaolin, and bentonite, which are essential for cement and pharmaceutical production. Meanwhile, the South West is home to bitumen, feldspar, and lithium—key minerals for road construction and battery technology.
The South East has lead, zinc, and coal reserves, while the South South is not only dominant in oil and gas but also holds significant deposits of limestone, clay, and rare earth elements.
Despite this wealth of natural resources, Kalu noted that Nigeria’s mining sector remains underdeveloped, contributing only 0.3% to the nation’s GDP as of Q3 2022.
He suggested that universities should establish more programs dedicated to mining and mineral processing to bridge this gap and help transform the sector.
“This government has taken steps to improve the mining sector, including amending mining laws to create a more investment-friendly environment.
However, research into sustainable mining practices and value-added processing remains limited,” Kalu added.
In addition to enhancing the mining sector, Kalu also emphasized the critical need to improve Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure, which he believes is essential for driving industrialization and economic progress.
He pointed to the Electricity Act of 2023 as a positive step but noted that challenges still remain, particularly in providing a reliable and sustainable power supply.
“The Electricity Act of 2023 is a significant milestone in reshaping the power sector, yet there are still gaps in implementation. Gas distribution infrastructure is limited, and industries in the South-South and South-East regions continue to face challenges in accessing reliable power,” he said.
Kalu also advocated for more cross-disciplinary collaboration within universities, such as involving engineering students in mapping pipeline routes using advanced technologies like geospatial AI, and law students drafting public-private partnership frameworks to fund infrastructure projects.
“To truly unlock Nigeria’s potential, we need to power our industries with reliable electricity, while ensuring we do so sustainably.
Education must prepare the next generation to not only meet the demands of the present but to create solutions for the future,” Kalu stated.
