The implementing partner of Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa), Richflood Foundation, has urged the Federal Government to adopt a sustainable approach to curb the regrettably prevailing illegal mining activities involving women and children in Nigeria.
In a statement made available to newsmen, the foundation expressed serious concern about the recently reported arrests of nursing mothers, teenagers, and children at illegal mining sites across Niger State.
Reacting to the reports, the Executive Director of WiM-Africa, Dr. Comfort Asoskoro-Ogaji, said, “While we commend the Niger State government’s efforts to curb illegal mining activities and protect natural resources, we urge a compassionate and sustainable approach to addressing the root causes of such issues.”
In an interview, a team from Richflood Foundation and WiM-Africa stated that the raids conducted by the Niger State Ministry of Mineral Resources, resulting in the arrest of these vulnerable groups, highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive socio-economic interventions in mining communities.
“As an organization working with WiM-Africa and pursuing its objectives in Nigeria through the ‘Voices of Children from the Pits’ Programme, we are dedicated to promoting the welfare of women and children in mining areas.
“We commend the compassionate decision to promptly release nursing mothers and elderly women. It is imperative that these individuals are treated with dignity and provided with the necessary support to transition out of hazardous and illegal mining activities.
“The prevalence of women and children in illegal mining underscores the need for targeted educational and economic support programs.
“Richflood Foundation and WiM-Africa are committed to implementing the ‘Voices of Children from the Pits’ (VOC) programme, which aims to rescue children from hazardous mining sites, raise awareness about the dangers of child labor, and facilitate access to education for these vulnerable children.
“We propose a collaborative effort with the Niger State government to organize a workshop on August 26, 2024,” the foundation said.
According to the statement, the workshop aims to raise awareness among women in mining communities about the importance of education for their children and gather information about affected children to facilitate their enrollment and retention in formal schooling systems.
The foundation also provided several recommendations for the consideration of the state government and stakeholders in Nigeria, top among them being the educational empowerment of children and the economic empowerment of women, alongside continuous awareness and sensitization programs across mining communities.
