*Photo: Dr Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development (centre), during a recent visit to Laurel School of Mining in Abuja*
There’s a quiet revolution happening in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector—one that is transforming rough gemstones into brilliant jewelry and creating glittering opportunities for jobs, wealth, and national pride.
Thanks to the renewed commitment of the Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, led by the indefatigable Dr. Dele Alake, value addition in the gemstone industry is finally taking center stage. During a recent visit to the Laurel School of Mining in Abuja, the Minister expressed delight at the exquisite quality of jewelry produced locally, stating that “from our raw materials such as gold, sapphire, gemstones, and the likes, we are now seeing finished products—jewelry—being created at this centre. That is value addition.”
And indeed, it is. What was once exported as raw, uncut stones for pennies on the dollar is now being crafted into luxurious ornaments that sell for 10 to 20 times more than the original stone. A raw sapphire that may fetch $50 in its rough form can become a $1,000 piece of fine jewelry when cut, polished, and mounted. That price leap is where Nigeria’s economic potential lies—not just beneath the earth, but in the hands that shape what comes out of it.
The establishment of more gemstone and jewelry-making centres, as promised by Dr. Alake, is not just about gemstones—it’s about livelihoods. It’s about training the youth, empowering women, building new generations of artisans, and enabling thousands to tap into a sustainable source of income. These centres will create a ripple effect, generating jobs not just for gemstone cutters and jewelers, but also for marketers, exporters, equipment suppliers, and logistics providers.
In regions where these gemstones are found—states like Kaduna, Plateau, Nasarawa, and Oyo—jewelry training hubs will supercharge the local economy. Mining communities will no longer just watch their resources leave the country in raw form—they will now benefit from an ecosystem of skills development, small business growth, and state-level revenue boosts.
Globally, gemstone jewelry is a billion-dollar business. In countries like Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka, value-added gemstone processing contributes significantly to their GDPs and foreign exchange earnings. Thailand, for example, earns over $12 billion annually from gem and jewelry exports, much of it produced by small-scale artisans and entrepreneurs. Nigeria can—and should—join those ranks.
With initiatives like the Laurel School of Mining’s Advanced Master Class, supported by the Ministry, Nigeria is building not just a pipeline of professionals, but a value chain that stretches from mine to market.
As Dr. Alake said, this is only the beginning. Once the 2025 budget implementation kicks off, even more training centres will spring up across the country, ensuring that every stone dug from Nigerian soil has the chance to sparkle—both on the global market and in the lives of everyday Nigerians.
From earth to elegance, Nigeria is ready to shine.
