Malivelihood Academy, a training organisation focused on mining and related skills, says it was invited as a special guest at Nigeria Mining Week 2026, one of the biggest gatherings in Nigeria’s solid minerals calendar.
In a post shared on its official Instagram page, the academy described the invitation as “a proud moment”. It said it remains committed to innovation, education and developing the next generation of leaders who will transform Nigeria’s mining industry and unlock its vast potential.
“The future is built through knowledge, innovation, and action. Together, we are shaping a new chapter for Nigeria,” the academy wrote.
About Nigeria Mining Week 2026
Nigeria Mining Week is organised by the Miners Association of Nigeria in partnership with PwC Nigeria, with the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) as transparency partner. The 2026 edition, the 11th, was held at the Abuja Continental Hotel from October 12 to 14 under the theme “Unlocking Investment and Growth through Partnerships”.
Organisers expected more than 3,000 participants, over 90 sponsors and exhibitors, and seven strategic forums. Delegates included investors, government officials, mining operators and the heads of the Ghana and Botswana Chambers of Mines.
Key topics on the programme included:
- Critical minerals and their role in battery, magnet and electric vehicle supply chains
- The gold value chain, trade and financing
- Integrated steel, iron ore and industrial minerals
- Women in the extractive industries
- Investment readiness, including gaps in geological data
The event also featured an exhibition floor where equipment makers showed off machines such as drilling rigs, an invitation-only deal room, and a closed-door CEO roundtable.
Who Is Malivelihood?
Malivelihood has been active in skills training for the mining and jewellery sectors. Earlier reports by MSME Africa said the organisation coordinates the Kogi Youth Mining and Jewellery Craftsmanship Empowerment Programme. That initiative trains young people from Kogi State in mining and jewellery production.
According to the report, Malivelihood’s Managing Director, Dr. Olushola Awujoola, said the programme received about 16,900 applications, and 20 young people were selected for the first batch. He said the training would follow international best practices, with a second batch to follow.
The academy’s appearance at Nigeria Mining Week fits that focus on building a skilled local workforce for a sector the government wants to grow.
Why Skills Matter for Nigeria’s Mining Sector
Nigeria has deposits of more than 40 solid minerals, including gold, lithium, iron ore, lead, zinc and limestone. For years, however, mining has contributed only a small share of the country’s economy, as oil dominated government revenue and investment.
Successive governments have tried to change this by promoting solid minerals as a key area for economic diversification. Investors and industry groups say one major gap is the shortage of trained workers. These include geologists, mining engineers, drill operators, equipment technicians and safety specialists.
Training organisations argue that without a skilled local workforce, Nigeria risks losing jobs and value to foreign firms, or leaving much of the sector to informal and artisanal miners who often work in unsafe conditions. Programmes that give young people practical skills could help more Nigerians benefit from the country’s mineral wealth.
What Comes Next
Events like Nigeria Mining Week bring together the investors, regulators and operators who will shape the industry in the coming years. For training bodies such as Malivelihood Academy, they also offer a chance to build partnerships with companies that will need skilled workers as new projects come on stream.
Whether these partnerships turn into lasting jobs for young Nigerians will depend on investment flowing into the sector, and on training that matches what the industry actually needs.
Flashinfong will continue to follow developments in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.