The National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, has led NANS executives and student leaders on an industry working visit to Sewia Mining & Refinery in Accra, Ghana, where the delegation received first-hand exposure to gold processing and the wider precious-metals industry.

The visit took the students beyond the classroom, allowing them to observe practical operations within the mining value chain, including a live gold-smelting demonstration.

A major highlight of the engagement was a ₦15 million commitment by the President and Chief Executive Officer of Sewia Mining & Refinery, Hon. Olatunde Gideon Igbasan, comprising ₦10 million for NANS Nigeria and ₦5 million for NANS Ghana to support student development and welfare initiatives.

‘Africa Must Add Value to Its Minerals’

Receiving the delegation, Hon. Igbasan challenged young Africans to look beyond conventional career paths and position themselves for opportunities emerging from the continent’s vast mineral resources.

He stressed that Africa’s natural wealth should no longer be viewed primarily as raw material for export, arguing that greater emphasis must be placed on responsible mining, traceability, local processing and value addition.

“We are sitting on enormous mineral wealth in Africa. The future is not simply to extract and export our resources, but to make them traceable, process them, add value and build industries around them. That is how we create jobs for our young people and generate sustainable revenue for our countries.”

Igbasan noted that Africa’s deposits of gold, lithium and other strategic minerals could support a broader industrial ecosystem if properly developed.

He identified potential opportunities for young people in areas including mining, geology, mineral processing, logistics, compliance, technology, precious-metals trading and other supporting industries.

He also expressed Sewia’s willingness to explore practical training and industry-exposure opportunities for young people.

From lecture halls to the gold industry

The practical session gave the NANS delegation a closer look at how mineral resources move from extraction towards processing and value addition.

For the students, the experience offered a practical perspective on the relationship between academic knowledge and industrial application, while exposing them to career and entrepreneurial opportunities within the mineral sector.

The visit also highlighted the growing importance of equipping graduates with practical skills and industry experience alongside formal academic qualifications.

NANS honours Igbasa

In recognition of his contributions to student and youth development, the NANS delegation presented Hon. Igbasan with an Award of Excellence.

The Ghana Chapter of NANS separately honoured him with a Patron Award, acknowledging his support for students and his commitment to creating opportunities for young people.

The recognitions followed his continued engagement with initiatives focused on student welfare and youth empowerment.

A partnership beyond the classroom

The engagement brought together student leadership and the private sector around a common question: how can Africa’s young population participate meaningfully in the industries that will drive the continent’s economic future?

The visit suggested one possible answer—stronger links between educational institutions, student organisations and industry, allowing young people to gain practical exposure before entering the labour market.

For NANS, the engagement also reinforced the need for students to look beyond certificates and develop practical competencies that can translate into employment, entrepreneurship and participation in emerging industries.

The Sewia engagement ultimately gave students a broader perspective: Africa’s mineral wealth is not only an economic resource—it is an opportunity for the next generation.

Our minerals. Our value addition. Our jobs. Our future.