The Ministry of Steel Development in its push for human resource development, has partnered the African Natural Resources and Mines Limited (ANRML) Gujeni to train staff on the processes and technologies used in the steel and mining sector.

Frederick Ewa, the Director, Raw Material Inspectorate and Metallurgical Development and Environmental Protection, in a statement on Monday, said the exercise was aimed to groom the staff and enable them understand the processes of steel production.

Ewa who led the staff of the ministry to the knowledge and experience sharing sessions in ANRML Plant in Gujeni, Kargarko LGA in Kaduna state, said such ministry and industry interactions, learnings, and field visits has enabled the officials to be better informed about the processes and technologies used currently, the extent of investment involved and the kind of unique advantage the organisation is bringing to uplift the economy of Nigeria.

He said, “We felt it is time to groom a set of people who will understand what you are doing in the area of producing steel. After completion of the knowledge sharing and field visit, the officials are better informed about the processes and are in a position to take better decisions in the interest of the industry and the economy, as they are fully informed and knowledgeable about the process.

“Every nation or business does not break out from the blues, there are definite steps that must be taken and that is what ANRML has done in the Steel and Mining sectors of our country. ANRML has painstakingly followed through years of consistency in planning and following processes of establishing such a company in Nigeria.

“The integrated steel plant is one of its kind in Africa. As director, I pledge to do everything within my power to ensure that ANRML succeeds in their Operational activities.”

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Also speaking, Ime Ekrikpo, Director, Raw Material Development and Investment Promotion who was part of the delegation said ANRML has demonstrated long and consistent commitment to the industrial development of Nigeria, adding that the backward integration plant has brought a veritable hope for Nigeria’s industrialisation. “Congratulations to ANRML on this great feat.”

In his response, Narasimha Nayak, CEO, ANRML said the company was happy to pass it’s knowledge and experience to the staff of the Ministry of Steel Development and welcomed more collaborations.

“We will do all in our power to pass our knowledge, skill and experience to build a skilled manpower in the Steel sector and also add value to minerals mined here to bolster Nigerian economy,” Nayak said.

The company’s iron-ore mining and processing plant in Kaduna state creates high-value Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) as a raw material for steel production, reducing the need for imported scrap iron and positioning Nigeria as a potential global steel producer.