Biographies of Members of the Solid Minerals Development Fund
1) Alhaji Uba Saida Malami (Chairman), a former Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Tourism in Nasarawa State and one time Vice President (Industries) of the Abuja Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture, has an extensive working experience in maritime, mining, public service, security and management.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography from the Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU), Zaria; a Master of Science degree in Maritime Studies from University of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom. He also holds certificates in Port and Shipping from the University of Wales, UK, and a Certificate in Maritime Security from Maine Maritime Academy, Boston, USA.
Malami started his career as a Pioneer Staff of the Research and Intelligence Department, National Maritime Authority, Lagos between 1988 and 1991. He was Assistant Port Services Controller, Tin Can Port between 1991 and 1992.
He was Managing Director of Maritime Project Services, UK, Nigeria between 1999 and 2005.
Alhaji Malami, a member of the National Business Support Group and Technical Committee of the Vision 2020, is also the founder and Chairman of Malami Academy Nasarawa, a tuition-free leadership academy with over 100 students.
2) Demola Gbedegesin (Member) Is Managing Director, Promethean Resources Limited, a junior mining company that is focused on base metals (Tin, lead, Zinc, Niobium and Tantalum). The Company owns over 95 brownfield Tin leases in Nigeria. He is also a Director of Promethean Equator Mines Limited, representing the core investor in the company. Gbadegesin started his career as a Network Architect at Hewlett Packard in Palo Alto, in 1994. He later worked as Senior Engineer at Sprint PCS in Kansas, USA, before joining OANDO PLC as Senior Vice President- Head, Corporate Development, Ocean and Oil Holdings.
Gbadegesin holds a Bachelor of Science degree (Summa Cum Laude) in Electrical Engineering from Howard University, Washington DC, USA; Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, USA; and a Master of Business Administration (Finance and General Management) from Harvard Business School, Boston Massachusetts, USA. He had served as Senior Advisor to the Minister of Finance (2006-2007) and Senior Advisor to Minister of Mines and Steel (2006).
3) Prince Theo Iseghohi (Member) an Inventor, Manufacturer and Miner with vast interest in Banking and Oil and Gas, is a trustee of the Association of Miners and Processor of Barytes and founder Association of Solid Minerals Processors of Nigeria.
He is a graduate of Owen University, Memphis, USA, where he bagged a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the City University of New York. He has over 30 years work experience that spanned mining, banking, management and oil and gas.
4) Eze Samuel Ogbu: (Member) is Chief Executive Officer of Rocrussh Nigeria Limited, a mining /stone crushing plant. He has had stints with First Inland bank Plc and Hallmark Bank where he held several managerial positions including Zonal Executive (South East), Inland Bank.
Ogbu holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Alabama A and M University, Hunstsville, Alabama USA, and MBA (Accounting) from Morgan State University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He is currently doing his doctorate degree in Business Administration at International School of Management, Paris, France.
5) Hajia Fatima Shinkafi (Secretary and Head of Secretariat), Commissioner for Commerce, Trade, Industry and Cooperative in Zamfara State and the focal Person for the Federal Government Social Investment programmes in the state. Hajia Shinkafi has an extensive knowledge of the mining sector and currently spearheading the re-engineering and re-structuring of artisanal miners and cooperatives under the mineral buying centres built by the Federal Government. She coordinates the state’s solid minerals development as an investment option.
Hajia Shinkafi attended Corona International School and Queens College, Lagos for her primary and secondary education. She later proceeded to Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London and the King’s College, University of London. She is currently rounding off her Master of Arts degree at the Flectcher School of Law and International Affairs, USA. She has also attended several trainings and conferences on mining and management both locally and internationally.
6) Dr Uwatt Bassey Uwatt – Corporate Member representing the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
7) Mrs Yinka Mubarak – Corporate Member representing Bankers Committee.
SOURCE: Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development