Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) achieved another landmark on Thursday, June 19, 2025, as it hosted the 3rd edition of its Special Lecture Series titled “Safe Mining, Chemicals, and Economic Diversification.” The event also featured the historic induction of the first set of postgraduate students in Medical Geology, positioning NSUK as the first university globally to offer a postgraduate programme in the emerging multidisciplinary field.
Held at the S.B. Mohammed Auditorium, School of Postgraduate Studies, the event drew dignitaries from government, academia, and the mining sector.
In her opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, lauded the commitment of stakeholders, especially the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, for their unwavering support to the university. She reaffirmed NSUK’s commitment to pioneering research in sustainable mining, environmental safety, and economic diversification. Emphasizing the global relevance of the lecture theme, she stated that the programme aims to address critical environmental and health challenges such as geogenic diseases and the responsible management of natural resources.
Delivering a goodwill message, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, representing the Nasarawa State Government, praised the university’s visionary leadership. He conveyed Governor Abdullahi Sule’s congratulatory message and commended NSUK for placing Nigeria on the world map by introducing the first-ever postgraduate programme in Medical Geology. Akabe highlighted the importance of the discipline, which investigates the interactions between geological processes and human health, and how it can be leveraged to tackle health challenges linked to environmental exposures.
Also speaking at the event, Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, applauded the initiative and encouraged the newly inducted students to pursue excellence, innovation, and national pride in their studies. He also commended Dr. K’tso Nghargbu, Nigeria’s first medical geologist, for his pioneering work in establishing the Jose Centeno International Centre for Medical Geology at NSUK.
In her keynote address, Hajiya Fatima Umaru Shinkafi, Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), shed light on Nigeria’s vast mineral potential and the critical role of the SMDF in bridging investment gaps in the mining sector. She explained that Nasarawa and Zamfara states are among the most mineral-rich in Nigeria. Hajiya Shinkafi stressed the need for safe mining practices and entrepreneurial thinking among students, advocating for the development of industries around medicinal and geomedical resources while cautioning against health risks like silicosis, goitre, and podoconiosis.
She called on the students to embrace innovation and digital tools, noting that applied knowledge in medical geology can significantly enhance community health and sustainable development.
In a landmark announcement, Hajiya Shinkafi revealed that Dr. K’tso Nghargbu has been awarded a professorial chair in Medical Geology, the first of its kind, with an annual budget of ₦50 million for five years to support the Centre’s activities and research.
The ceremony also featured the formal induction of the pioneer postgraduate students, administered by Professor Maikano Ari, Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies. Special awards of recognition were presented to Dr. Emmanuel Akabe and Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi by the Vice-Chancellor for their exemplary contributions to NSUK and the mining sector at large.
With this milestone, NSUK further cements its place as a leader in innovation and academic excellence in Nigeria and globally.
Information and Protocol Unit, 2025.