The Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has signed into law a bill establishing the Mining Institute Alkaleri, Bauchi State (MIABAS), to strengthen mining education, tackle illegal mining and maximise economic benefits from the state’s solid mineral resources.
The State House of Assembly had earlier passed the bill to allow the establishment of a specialised institution dedicated to mining education, technical training and skills development.
According to the Information Officer of the Ministry of Natural Resources Development, Fatima Abdulkarim, the governor also approved the conversion of the Kaura Mineral Processing and Buying Centre at Gwaram village in Alkaleri Local Government Area into the temporary site of the institute to facilitate its immediate take-off.
The Ministry said that the governor had directed the relocation of the mineral buying centre to Toro Local Government Area. The new institute is expected to provide specialised training in mining, mineral processing, geology and other related disciplines, with a view to developing local expertise and equipping young people with practical and industry-relevant skills.
It is also expected to create opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship and greater local participation in the solid minerals value chain. “The establishment of the institute comes amid growing efforts to harness Bauchi State’s mineral deposits for economic development while addressing challenges associated with illegal mining and inadequate technical capacity in the sector,” the Information Officer added.
The state government said the initiative was aimed at transforming the state’s natural resource potential into tangible economic opportunities and promoting sustainable growth. It added that further details concerning the administrative take-off of the institute, commencement of academic activities, available programmes and admission procedures would be communicated through official channels.
