Australian High Commissioner Visits NIWIMNRO, Stresses Support for Female Artisanal Miners

Leilani Bin-Juda, the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, characterized the experiences of women in Nigeria's artisanal mining industry as shocking and underscored the necessity for ongoing support and empowerment.

This statement was made during her visit to the office of the Indigenous Women in Mining and Natural Resources Organisation (NIWIMNRO) in Abuja on Friday.

NIWIMNRO, a non-profit organization, aims to enhance the socio-economic conditions of indigenous women involved in Nigeria’s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector.

Reception for the High Commissioner included Dapo Olorunyomi, the CEO of NIWIMNRO; board member Fatimah Maikore; Felicia Dairo, the Executive Director; Research and Grant Officer, Taiwo Ojo; Project Officer, Chiamaka Ozurumba; Communications Lead, Adeiza Sanni; and intern, Christopher Miri.

Bin-Juda pointed out the harsh realities that women face at mining sites across Nigeria, which call for targeted livelihood support and greater inclusion in the industry. "The struggles that these women, particularly, have to undergo are unbelievable," she noted after viewing a short documentary by NIWIMNRO, which showcased various difficult conditions.

The documentary highlighted the labor-intensive tasks and health risks encountered by women, who constitute around 40 percent of Nigeria's estimated 700,000 artisanal miners. Often, these women manually dig for gold and iron ore using just their hands and feet, frequently working without protective gear against harmful substances such as mercury.

According to Project Officer Ms. Ozurumba, the organization was created in response to these pressing challenges. "NIWIMNRO exists because we recognized that women, especially artisanal women who significantly contribute to the economy, have been strategically overlooked when it comes to benefiting from the resources they work with," she stated.

NIWIMNRO has identified this gap in the mining landscape and is dedicated to addressing it while advancing gender equality. The organization employs nine strategic focus areas to tackle this gap, emphasizing resources, market integration, evidence-based research, data collection, and innovative technology.

Additionally, NIWIMNRO aims to foster community development, training, policy advocacy, and gender inclusion in its initiatives. "Our approach is guided by evidence-based research, ensuring we are informed and actively involved in our interventions," she explained, adding that they have successfully trained 20 women from Niger State, Kaduna State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Executive Director Ms. Dairo mentioned that the training beneficiaries have shared their newfound knowledge with fellow miners in their communities, thereby extending the program's reach beyond the initial group.

Mr. Olorunyomi, the CEO of NIWIMNRO, described the organization’s vision as one of elevating the role of women in development, especially in sectors that have historically minimized their contributions. "We aim to position women's roles at the forefront of Africa's development, recognizing the invaluable impact they hold in the mining economy," he affirmed.

The organization also plans to expand its operations beyond the initial three states and enhance training and opportunities for women miners. They are currently conducting assessments to better understand the unique experiences of female miners nationwide, which will inform their training and capacity- building efforts.

The Australian High Commissioner commended the ambitious vision of NIWIMNRO, noting it aligns well with initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of women at the grassroots level, while also emphasizing the necessity of reliable data to measure impact effectively. "It's crucial to have concrete figures demonstrating how many women have been affected over a specific period," she concluded.