By Shakirudeen Bankole, Lagos
After rigorous training in both technical and managerial skills, the 4th cohort of the Women in Mining Nigeria’s Young Entrepreneurs graduated Wednesday, November 26, 2025, with certificates of proficiency presented to them.
For three days, WIMIN had trained young Nigerian women from different parts of society in Jewelry and Gemstone crafting, along with managerial skills needed to scale their entry into the nation’s jewelry and gemstone industry and position themselves for success in the global market.
The organisers described the training as an important process that has prepared the participants for financial and economic independence.
The knowledge was administered during the master classes that preceded the official opening of the 4th edition of WIMIN’s annual Jewelry and Gemstone Conference, holding at the Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lagos.
According to the WIMIN National President, Engr. (Dr.) Janet Adeyemi, the need to expose more women to the nation’s growing mining sector cannot be over emphasised, “as the industry holds the key to liberating many of our women and ladies from domestic violence, incapacitation, and other poverty-induced social stigmas.”
The same message was echoed by Mrs. Adesuwa Dan-Princewill, the events Chairperson, who insisted that it was to utilise the nation:s mineral wealth to liberate the women folks from poverty and societal subjugation.
At the close out training held Wednesday, three important master classes stood out.
The first was the close-out phase of the technical session by the world renowned crafter, Ladi Akapo, who took the students through the making of simple, advanced, and highly complex jewelry and gemstones.
For hours, the highly successful entrepreneur shuttled between his scaling machine and the design table, measuring, fine tuning, and explaining the processes involved in making elegant and exclusive jewelry pieces.
According to him, “there is always a story behind every precious jewelry or gemstone crafted,” adding that, “this story is the driver of the emotions that establish and strengthen the bond of love between the crafter and the buyer.”
As he explained the technicalities of the production, our reporter’s eyes were fixed on the long hours of work being put into the making of just a ring.
“This is not just a ring. It is a valuable piece that retains and accumulates value across time. It also embodies memories and important historical events,” Akapo said, as though he was responding to the reporter’s silent thoughts.
The session was characterised by focus, meticulousness, patience, and the undivided attention of both the teacher and the learners.
The second session was led by Mrs Oluseyi Abdullahi, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Crafities and Creative Director at Zilman Jewelry. She spoke on the theme, Building a Thriving Jewelry Business.
She opened her presentation with the basic requirements for setting up a recognised business: choosing a name, registering with the Corporate Affairs Commission, securing an office, setting up a structure, opening and keeping proper records, building a brand, acquiring knowledge of the trade, investing in the tools of the craft, ensuring quality control, adopting the right pricing, and guaranteeing maximum customer satisfaction, among others.
“You must understand that a business exists solely to satisfy its customers. This is the baseline that determines the profitability and future of the business.
“Whatever product you sell, ensure the money is kept somewhere. It is not yet your money until you receive an after sales report confirming customer satisfaction. That is when the money becomes yours. Even then, you still have to reinvest the profit, acquire more knowledge, update your tools, and audit your accounts for tax reconciliation,” she said.
Mrs Abdullahi also urged the young entrepreneurs to embrace goal setting, noting that it guides their direction and helps manage expectations.
“Even if you do not achieve much, goal setting helps you take inventory of what you have done, what is left to be done, and how to improve.
“You also need to focus on paying yourself and saving for the business. These practices help position your business for transformational growth,” she added.
The third highlight of the day was the master class by Mr Chibuike Alan Ochuiwa of A.C and C Priceless Trading Limited. His presentation focused on Certification, Ethics, and Sustainability in Gems and Gold.
Ochuiwa said passion and capital are not enough to succeed in the sector. He stressed the importance of professional certification, regulatory compliance, ethical standards, and safe practices in the highly specialised field.
According to him, “industry certifications — regulatory, approval, knowledge based, among others — open doors for serious entrepreneurs, as they help establish their level of compliance and expertise. In the jewelry and gemstone industry, we have bodies such as TradeFair International, Jewelry Council, Gemological Institute of America, the Dodd Frank Act, and the European Union regulations, among others.”
The expert also explained the necessity of ethical behaviour in the sector, stating that at the local level, ethics involve consistent compliance with set rules and standards.
“At the global level, it focuses on product authenticity, mining procedures, child labour, conflict methods, fair wages, and environmental concerns. All these must be considered for growth and sustainability,” he said.
He added that jewelry and gemstone making is particularly suitable for women empowerment, noting that the expanding industry has the potential to lift more women into financial stability.
For example, he explained that Nigeria’s total gold export to the international market in 2023 stood at 1.54 billion dollars, with the United Arab Emirates accounting for 1.25 billion dollars of the export.
“Meanwhile, the royalty the government received from the same export stood at a meagre 1.03 million dollars. This shows that much more can be achieved if we invest in value addition and adhere to ethical guidelines,” he added.
