Barrister Adesuwa Dan Princewill is Chairman of the Organising committee for this year’s Gold and Gemstone Conference and Exhibition (GGCE). She spoke about the importance of the programme and impact of women miners on the Nigerian economy. Excerpts:
Q: You are the Chairman of the Organising committee for this year’s Gold and Gemstone Conference and Exhibition (GGCE). What can participants expect?
A: Participants can be assured that they are in for a premier continental event. Affiliated with the African Union and fully adopted by the African Mineral Development Centre (AMDC), the GGCE has secured its place on the African jewelry and mining calendar, attracting exhibitors from 37 African countries last year. Attendees can expect a dynamic program featuring high-level plenary sessions and intensive masterclasses designed to foster learning and interaction with great industry stalwarts. Furthermore, the event hosts a vibrant marketplace dedicated to illustrating the very best in contemporary jewelry design from across the gold and gemstone ecosystem.
Q:How long have you been associated with WIMIN and which roles have you played in the organisation?
A: My involvement with Women In Mining in Nigeria (WIMIN) began in 2022, following an invitation from Eng. Mrs. Janet Adeyemi, the National President, to join the effort to empower women and youth in the mining sector. I joined the organization as an Executive of the WIMIN Lagos State Chapter, which was relatively new at the time in the same year the idea for the Gold and Gemstone Conference and Exhibition (GGCE) was first conceived. I was nominated and took on the role of Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the GGCE. We successfully launched the concept with a small cocktail event to secure buy-in and received strong industry support and pledges, leading us to develop and maintain crucial concept partners.
My primary role remains the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, though the scope has significantly amplified. The program has expanded remarkably, growing from a state chapter event to a national event, and is now a continental fixture. I am proud to see what began as a local idea evolve into a continental platform with international aspirations, a success largely owed to the continued commitment of the Lagos Chapter Women In Mining members.
Q:What is the theme of this year’s conference?
A: The theme of this year’s conference is:
‘Accelerating Collaboration for sustainable Gold and Gemstone Development in Africa’
This theme emphasizes the power of working together, not just within the mining sector (like the Association of Women in Mining in Africa – AWIMA), but also across diverse groups such as Women in Film, Women Impacting Nigeria, and the Association of Professional Fashion Practitioners. The core focus of this collaboration is to drive Youth and Women empowerment, Capacity building, and poverty alleviation through Value addition and creativity in the industry, operating under the principle that “we are stronger together.”
Q: Which new programmes have been added to the line-up of activities at this year’s GGCE?
A: This year’s GGCE features several exciting new additions, thanks in large part to the new Youth Sub-Committee, which has integrated Millennials and Gen Zs into the program. These young innovators have launched a 3D Design for Jewelry Making Master Class for participants and are steering a dynamic Round Table Conference during the event, with many other novel ideas curated throughout the exhibition hall. Additionally, the GGCE National Jewelry Competition has been relaunched with the theme “Echoes of Heritage.” The competition will feature two categories—beading (contestants use made-in-Nigeria amethyst beads) and metalsmithing (contestants use Rose Quartz cabochons)—with winners selected by industry gurus from the creative sector.
Q: You have lined up several new sponsors for this top industry event. Who are they and what made you choose to go with them? A: We are delighted to announce several key sponsors for this year’s GGCE, demonstrating the high regard this event holds within the industry and the government:
Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals: Led by Honorable Minister Mr. Dele Alake, the Ministry is the core government body overseeing the entire sector. Their sponsorship signals the Federal Government’s official endorsement of the event, confirming its strategic national importance for gold and gemstone development.
Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF): Under the leadership of Executive Secretary Madam Hajia Fatima Shinkafi, the SMDF is crucial for financing and de-risking mining projects. Their support validates the GGCE’s goal of attracting investment and showcases the financial mechanisms available to support participants and drive sustainable development.
First Bank Nigeria: As a leading financial institution, First Bank’s sponsorship connects the GGCE to the formal banking and financial sector. This is vital for promoting access to capital and formalizing transactions for the gold and gemstone value chain, offering stability and growth opportunities to attendees.
Segilola Resources: As a key operational player in the Nigerian gold sector, their sponsorship provides valuable industry credibility and expertise. Their partnership demonstrates the event’s relevance to major miners and helps connect artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM) with large-scale, formal operators.
We are immensely grateful for the significant goodwill, endorsements, and support—both in cash and kind, from all our sponsors.
Q: The partnership between WIMIN and Miss Universe created a buzz in the industry. What is the significance of this?
A: This is not our first rodeo; we previously designed the Miss Universe Nigeria 2023 Crown, which generated significant industry buzz. The new crown, however, features a different style with more gemstones incorporated. The entire concept is centered on women supporting women: as our Queen represents Nigeria internationally, WIMIN, acting as the ‘mothers of the nation,’ is there to nurture, mentor, and equip her. We emphasize that beauty transcends the surface, rooted instead in identity and origin. The precious metal and the numerous gemstones were sourced from Bauchi state, mined by Mr. Chibuike Alan of AC and C Priceless (one of our concept partners) and WIMIN Vice President North, Hajia Hadiza Suleiman Dauda. The gemstones were skillfully cut and polished by Mr. Ifianyi. The final design was conceived by Kiki Lucas of Kiki Lucas Jewelry, and the meticulous craftsmanship was executed by Tejiri Odushina of Tejiri Inc. We are solidly behind our Queen as she steps onto the global stage with a reassured sense of identity to represent us all.
Q: Which roles are small-scale, artisanal women miners expected to play at the conference and exhibition?
A: Small-scale and artisanal women miners, who represent a significant portion of WIMIN’s membership across 23 Nigerian states, are expected to play two vital roles at the GGCE. Primarily, they will serve as exhibitors and vendors, showcasing their products and engaging directly with visitors to secure patronage and sales, as they have successfully done in the past. More importantly, their second role is as direct beneficiaries of intensive capacity building. This year, they will receive specialized training from top-tier instructors, including the internationally renowned master jeweler, Mr. Labi Kapo from Cape Town, with a major focus on teaching them how to run their businesses efficiently, become bankable, and ultimately gain better access to funding necessary for scaling their operations.
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself professionally?
A: I am a lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986, holding an LLB from the University of Lagos. My legal expertise is specialized, with two Masters of Law (LL.M.) degrees from the University of Houston Law Center, one in Natural Resources, Energy, and Environmental Law, and a second in International Law. As the CEO of FAR Horizon Minerals Ltd. and Lead Consultant at Rockwater Consulting, I focus on translating legal compliance and strong resource governance into profitable, sustainable “Mine to Market” ventures, actively driving corporate strategy and investment. I am a three-time U.S. Congressional Award recipient for my work in facilitating joint ventures between the Nigerian and U.S. business communities, and I was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian American Chamber of Commerce Texas. As the Chairperson of the Gold and Gemstone Conference and Exhibition (GGCE), I am deeply passionate about promoting financial inclusion, local value addition, and capacity development for women entrepreneurs across the Nigerian mining sector.
