EURO-TITAN, represented by Géosciences Conseils – Catura Geoprojects, participated in the 10th SGA–SEG–IUGS–UNESCO African Metallogeny Short Course, held at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, from 20 to 26 June.
This year’s short course focused on “Understanding the Value Chain Possibilities of West-Central African Mineral, Energy, and Geoheritage Potentials.” Through high-level lectures, workshops, and panel discussions, the programme highlighted the significant potential of critical and strategic mineral resources in Nigeria and across Africa, particularly in the context of the green energy transition and sustainable industrial development.
The programme covered a wide range of topics, including mineral resource value chains, technology materials for the energy transition, sustainable mining and processing, renewable energy for a green Africa, rocks for agriculture and infrastructure, sustainable wealth creation, and the role of international partnerships in strengthening the raw materials sector.
Approximately 50 participants attended the course, including graduate students from Nigeria, Liberia, and Algeria, as well as young professionals from academia, private companies, and governmental organizations from Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon, and Algeria. Lecturers and invited experts came from Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Algeria, Canada, France, Germany, Greece, and the United Kingdom.
🎓 Training & Workshops
Four dedicated training workshops were also organised:
- Youth Entrepreneurship in Africa’s Extractive Sector: Led by Doro Niang, CEO of African Global Engineering, Senegal.
- PhD Projects: How to Get Funds: Led by Terence Cho Ngang, Department of Mining and Engineering, University of Bamenda, and Explorers 22 Consulting Group, Cameroon.
- Overview of African Mineral Wealth and Sustainable Utilization: Led by Prof. Ismahene Chaouche, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria.
- Current AI and Data Inventorization Techniques for Mineral Exploration: Led by Kamal Omosanya, DiGi Geo Limited, and Shadrach Sheriff, President of NMGS-YP, Nigeria.
The SGA Student Chapter in Senegal was presented by Malick Faye, President of the Senegal Student Chapter – Young Scientist Network Senegal.
🤝 EURO-TITAN Contributions
EURO-TITAN was actively involved in the short course through several contributions.
- Dr. Beate Orberger, CEO of Catura Geoprojects, co-organized the short course alongside the local organizing team and delivered a lecture on “How Can European-African Strategic Partnerships Strengthen the Critical Raw Material Value Chains?” She also contributed to the event’s panel discussions on capacity building, critical minerals, and future perspectives for the African mining and processing industries.
- Rosanna Babagiannou from SAISLAB presented “From Critical Minerals to Intelligent Value Chains,” highlighting the importance of digital tools and intelligent systems in building more transparent and sustainable mineral value chains.
- Nathan Williams, CEO of Minespider, Germany, was also invited by EURO-TITAN and delivered a lecture entitled “Technology for Easier, Trusted Mineral Trade,” focusing on traceability and trust in mineral supply chains.
The panel discussions addressed three major themes:
- Education and Training in Capacity Building for the African Mining and Processing Industries
- Critical and Strategic Minerals for the Low-Carbon Economy: The Inevitability of Value Chain Development for West-Central Africa
- Take-Home Messages and Future Perspectives
⛏️ Field Excursions
Participants also took part in exciting field excursions to key sites in Osun and Ekiti States, Nigeria. These included a visit to the operational Segilola Gold Mine in Osun State, operated by SROL Company, which provided valuable firsthand insight into active mining operations.
The group also visited the natural springs, waterfalls, and warm and cold springs of Ikogesi, Ekiti State, a unique geological and hydrothermal site. Another highlight was the visit to the newly established Hill Side University, Okemesi, Ekiti State, showcasing emerging infrastructure for education and research in the region.
đź‘Ą Organizing Committee
The short course was organized by an international committee including:
- Prof. Gbenga Okunlola, President of the Geological Society of Africa, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
- Prof. Olatunji Akinade, IPP Nigerian Mining & Geosciences Society, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
- Dr. Samuel Ologaniyi, President of the Nigerian Society of Economic Geologists
- Prof. Mathew Nton, Head of Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
- Dr. Beate Orberger, SGA Representative for African Metallogeny Short Courses, CEO of Géosciences Conseils – Catura Geoprojects, Professor at Université Paris-Saclay, France
- Prof. Ismahene Chaouche, SGA Councillor for International Student Affairs, University of Science and Technology Houari Boumediene, Algiers, Algeria
- Dr. Edmund Nickless, IUGS Chair, Resourcing Future Generations
- Dr. David Baratoux, IRD, Toulouse, France
- Dr. Mary Immaculate Neh-Fru, SGA Workshop Coordinator, CRGM, Garoua, Cameroon
- Dr. Malick Faye, President of the SGA Student Chapter – Young Scientist Network Senegal, Senior Exploration Geologist, Star Resources, Senegal
The success of the short course was made possible through the generous support of numerous Nigerian partners, who sponsored local student travel, accommodation, and transport, as well as full stays for international speakers and organizers. SGA, SEG, IUGS, and Catura sponsorships also supported travel expenses for participants and lecturers from outside Nigeria.
Overall, the event was a resounding success, thanks to the outstanding organisation of the local team led by Prof. Gbenga Okunlola and Prof. Olatunji Akinade. The University of Ibadan, recognised as one of Africa’s leading universities, once again demonstrated its strong commitment to international capacity building, scientific cooperation, and knowledge transfer.
✨ EURO-TITAN warmly thanks all organisers, partners, lecturers, and participants for their exceptional hospitality, collaboration, and commitment. This milestone event marks a decade of knowledge transfer, innovation, and pan-African scientific advancement. We look forward to the next ten years of cooperation, capacity building, and sustainable development in Africa’s mineral resources sector.
#Geoscience #Africa #MineralResources #CriticalRawMaterials #SustainableMining #CapacityBuilding #SGA #SEG #IUGS #UNESCO #Nigeria #WestAfrica #RawMaterials #GreenEnergy #EnergyTransition #MineralExploration #Geology #AfricanScience #EuroTitan #Catura #GĂ©osciencesConseils #Minespider #SAISLAB #WomenInSTEM #YouthInSTEM #ScienceDiplomacy #InternationalCollaboration #ValueChain #SustainableDevelopment #HigherEducation
