FG, Institute Sign Gemstone, Jewellery Development Pact

The Federal Government and the Gemmological Institute of Nigeria have signed an agreement for the development of the gemstone and jewellery industry in Nigeria.

A statement issued by the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in Abuja on Thursday said that the pact would enable the ministry and the institute to design and implement a strategy for the development of jewellery and gemstone industry.

Project Coordinator, Mineral Sector Support for Economic Diversification, Mr Linus Adie, said the move was aimed at developing a sustainable master plan that would help in poverty alleviation, job and wealth creation through the development of a vibrant jewellery and gemstone industry in the country, the statement said.

Adie said MinDiver would begin the process by embarking on huge sensitisation for cooperation from everyone in the industry since Nigeria has the population and a huge market if the industry is properly harnessed.

He said part of the design would hinge on the expansion of the local market, skill acquisition and training of artisans specifically to cater to the yearnings of the Nigerian market.

The MinDiver boss said that in the long run, Nigeria was looking at developing a template like that of India, Sri Lanka and Germany where a jewellery or gemstone workshop serves as one-stop shop for design, cutting, crafting and other activities.

He said that jewellery production contributed hugely to the Gross Domestic Product of the three countries which made them good models for Nigeria.

The project coordinator said the plan “is to make jewellery making spread to many states in Nigeria and one of the critical components of the development plan and also to conduct vocational trainings for artisans across board.”