By Dupson Collins, 25th September, 2023
The Federal Mines Officer in charge of Ondo State, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr Akinyeye Olajide Edward has narrated how illegal mining was stopped in Ondo State saying collaboration with security agencies helped in nipping the activities of illegal miners from the state in the bud.
He made this disclosure during the 2023 Engineering Week Distinguished Public Lecture, Dinner and Award Nite held at Mult-Purpose Event Centre, Akure.
According to the Mining Engineer, ” Our collaboration with the security agencies in Ondo State has really help us to achieve a lot”.
Engr Akinyeye said Mining is the most regulated sector in Nigeria Economy with a lot of legal framework, Mineral Act 2007, Regulation of 2011 among others saying all these Acts help in regulating the sector.
He added that Miners are not criminal as no one can come into the sector without passing through the laid down rules and regulations, noting that illegal miners are the one giving the Industry bad name.
He noted that to stop illegal miners from operating in the state, the ministry under his supervision in the state has taken upon itself organizing adequate orientation and enlightenment with aim of changing their mindset and need to do the right thing.
“With enough education and enlightenment by my Ministry and myself, I am able to change their mindset and the need to do the right thing”.
Speaking on the award conferred on him by the Akure Branch of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, Engr Akinyeye thanked the Society for the recognition saying the honour would no doubt spur him to contribute more to the Engineering Profession.
His words, ” If you have done little and you are recognize, it will encourage you to do more, committed more. This award is a morale boosters to do more”.
He dedicated the Award to God and colleagues in Nigeria mostly ones in Ondo State saying without their support and contributions NSE wouldn’t have honoured him.
Engr Akinyeye Olajide Edward is the eighth Federal Mines Officer in charge of Ondo State, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development. He is a Mining Engineer from Idanre, born into the family of Late High Chief John Akinyeye, the Sasere of Idanre Kingdom.
He bagged his first Degree in Mining Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA). He joined the Federal Civil Service in 1991. He is a member of Council of Mining Engineers and Geoscientist, Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society and Nigerian Society of Engineers.
He is an alumni of London Graduate School, Imperial Whaft, London Sw62TW (2008), and University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa Ghana (2009).
Jide as popularly called is also a serving member of the Nigerian Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Committe representing the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development shared by nine countries with headquarters based in Tunis, Tunisia.
