Industrial development is the sixth agenda of the eight-point agenda of the Governor Kayode Fayemi’s administration, and the Ministry of Commerce, Industry, and Cooperatives is saddled with the responsibility of the state’s economic development.
The Fountain Solid Minerals Development Company (FSMDC), the State’s vehicle for strategic Investment in solid minerals development held its inaugural meeting recently.
In attendance at the meeting was the Commissoner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Reim Bodunrin, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Solid Mineral Resources, Mr. Folabi Fasanmi, the newly appointed General Manager of FSMDC, Mr Kayode Ogundipe, the COO of Fountain Holdings Ltd Mr Jide Fayemi and other members of board and operational staff. In attendance were the field geologists.
Otunba Bodunrin appreciate the present administration’s approval of setting up the company to harness the solid mineral deposits in the state, since mining is included in the federal governments exclusive list.
“This is another major achievement by the Governor of Ekiti state by showing his ability to key into the fact that Ekiti wealth is in it’s minerals beneath the ground and in those rocks,” said the Commissioner.
He thus charged the company to carry out its duties with the highest business ethics and remember that they are not a ministry, department or agency of the state, but a fully registered company doing business for profit.
Mr. Bodunrin said the state government is answering the clarion call for it to be a leader in the harnessing of the various mineral resources that abound in it. He charged them further to set achievable short, medium and long-term goals for the company.
Matters discussed bordered on the vision of the company to be one of the leading players in the mining sector in Ekiti state and Nigeria at large, and to encourage greater private investment in the mining sector.
Mr Kayode Ogundipe, the company’s GM express his delight at the opportunity to be at the helm of affairs of this historical feat and at the opportunity to create jobs and generate revenue for Ekiti State at large.
The focus of Fountain Solid Mineral Development Company will be on metallic and non metallic minerals which are typified by columbite, tantalite, cassiterite (tin), gold, iron ore, bauxite, mica, clay, kaolin, feldspar, lepidolite, marble, granites, charnokite and gemstones such as beryl, tourmaline, garnet.
Last modified: April 25, 2012
