Babatunde Bamidele, an engineer, is the managing director/CEO of Glister Success Limited, pioneers in the production of micronised calcium carbonate for high precision industrial applications. In this interview with SIKIRAT SHEHU, he analyses issues surrounding the mining industry.
How did you get into mining as a vocation?
I started my career as an Industrial Engineer in Nigeria Industrial Development Bank and became investment officer whose duty was to appraise industrial projects. A mining project around Kwara/Kogi corridor was appraised by me in 1992 and from there I developed interest. So, in 1998, I promoted a mining project around Oke-Ogun axis of Oyo State, specifically Alagutan/Igbeti axis, bearing in mind that I was an investment banker/ industrial engineer. I was able to let my experience bear on the running of the company and today we give glory to Almighty God.
We began the production of high-grade coated calcium carbonate for cable metal and plastic pipes industries in 2012, the first of its kind in West Africa. Before this time, these products were imported into the country.
Do you see any prospect of Nigeria benefitting from your industry as an alternative source of revenue for the nation?
Nigeria has a lot to benefit from the solid mineral resources in Nigeria, I can say without fear of contradiction that there is hardly any mineral resource that is available anywhere in the world that is not available in Nigeria. I think with the Mining Cadastre system backed with Mineral act of 2007, the Federal Government has done its parts, because this has given investors adequate security of tenor. However, if the regulatory authorities are transparent in their approach and oversight, the country will benefit immensely from the industry.
What are the challenges associated with your work as a miner?
I will not take them as problems but rather as challenges and they are surmountable. One of it is the various regulations by government agencies on taxes and operations. Aside this, we have the perception of host communities who think that the mineral deposits in their domain belong to them, thereby coming to ask for their share in one form of the other, and if not well managed, it can create a lot of crisis. I think government should find a way of controlling this so that investors are well-protected from a hostile community.
What are your suggestions to government on repositioning the mining and extractive industry?
My first suggestion is that government should invite stakeholders, people who are practical on the job. If government needs true guide on making headway in the mining and solid mineral sector, it is not the work of professors or academicians. We in the field have been through the reality on the field. We face challenges and know how they are. So formulating policies about that sector would be best done by us. The bottom-line is liberalisation of the solid minerals sector.
We hear of Illegal miners, how can government deal with this menace?
These so-called illegal miners exist as a matter of necessity. Most of the miners see what they do as a means of livelihood and until government provides alternative sources of livelihood for these people, the fight against illegal mining will be difficult because we have them in thousands.
My advice is that governments should introduce a scheme to accommodate these illegal miners, train them on modern ways of mining, just the way farmers are trained on modern ways of farming. Take it or leave it, these Illegal miners have become proficient in what they do; accommodating them and bringing them on board as legitimate miners with appropriate license will allow government enjoy their existence in the industry. I am not trying to justify the illegality of what they do, but my point is that they are created by the spate of poverty in the nation, and government must find a way of accommodating them so as to be productive to the society. Government can issue licenses to them.
What advice do you have for youths who want to come into mining?
It is a very good environment for youths to be gainfully employed, but they need to endure the gestation period before profits start rolling in. My problem with youths of these days is their unquenchable thirst for quick riches. It takes four to five years before profits start coming in as a miner so making riches overnight does not arise here.
What advice do you have for youths passing through hard times and hoping for a better future?
Patience, perseverance and determination to succeed. Rome was not built in a day so whatever the youths see happening today is a product of long term efforts coming to fruition gradually. When our youths start on a venture, they must remain focused and endure, business gain does not come in one day, it takes time but when the gains begin to roll in, then the entrepreneur is said to have been established. Patience is essential in business venture.
As a manager of men and resources would you like to join politics so as to be able to serve your people?
Well, If I am invited by my people, I will readily accept to serve them in any capacity but I will never come and contest any election under the present circumstances in Nigeria. If you remember the Hope 93 scenario that brought about June 12; that was a sad experience, I will not say more than that, but in my views any of us doing business are already part of governance. We employ labour, pay taxes and engage in community development efforts.
