GMMAN, Adelia, Laurel School Champion Investment in Nigeria’s Gemstone Processing Industry
Stakeholders advocate processing clusters, technical training and local value addition to boost exports, jobs
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Gemstones Miners and Marketers Association of Nigeria (GMMAN), Adelia and Laurel School of Mines have called for increased investment in gemstone processing, technical skills development and local value addition to unlock Nigeria’s gemstone industry’s economic potential.
The call was made during a panel session at Nigeria Mining Week 2026 in Abuja, themed “Developing Nigeria’s Gemstone Value Chains.” The session brought together industry leaders to explore practical strategies for strengthening the gemstone value chain, creating employment and expanding Nigeria’s participation in domestic and international markets.
The panel featured GMMAN President, Engr. Adeniran Ajibade; Adelia Country Manager, Segun Okoh; and Chief Executive Officer of Laurel School of Mines, Tope Adebanjo. GMMAN National Secretary, Dr Tinuke Temitope, moderated the discussion.
Participants stressed the need to move beyond the export of raw gemstones by investing in local cutting, polishing, treatment, grading and jewellery manufacturing. They noted that expanding domestic processing capacity would enable Nigeria to retain more value from its mineral resources, stimulate enterprise development and create jobs across the value chain.
A major recommendation was the establishment of dedicated gemstone processing clusters equipped with shared facilities and essential infrastructure. Such clusters, stakeholders observed, could encourage collaboration among operators, reduce barriers to entry for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), attract private investment and improve the competitiveness of locally processed gemstones.
The panel also underscored the importance of developing a skilled workforce through specialised technical training, certification and entrepreneurship programmes. According to the stakeholders, access to finance, improved processing technology and professional expertise would be critical to raising product quality, meeting international standards and positioning Nigerian gemstone businesses for wider market opportunities.
Beyond processing and skills development, the discussion examined the need to formalise artisanal mining, promote responsible mining practices and strengthen the industry’s institutional framework. Participants also highlighted the value of learning from established gemstone-producing countries, including Tanzania, to identify approaches that could be adapted to Nigeria’s operating environment.
Nigeria possesses commercially valuable gemstones, including tourmaline, sapphire, aquamarine and garnet. However, stakeholders believe that the country can derive greater economic benefits from these resources through coordinated investment in processing infrastructure, technical capacity, responsible sourcing and market development.
For investors and entrepreneurs, the proposed interventions present opportunities across gemstone extraction, processing equipment, training, jewellery production, certification, logistics and export development. A stronger domestic value chain could also support the growth of specialised businesses, broaden non-oil export opportunities and contribute to industrial diversification.
GMMAN’s participation at Nigeria Mining Week 2026 reinforces its commitment to building a more integrated and competitive gemstone industry through partnerships among miners, marketers, training institutions, investors and government agencies.
The stakeholders maintained that unlocking the sector’s potential will require sustained collaboration between the public and private sectors, supported by policies that encourage investment, improve access to finance, strengthen technical capacity and promote local value addition.
As Nigeria seeks to diversify its economy and maximise the benefits of its solid mineral resources, investment in gemstone processing could provide a pathway to higher-value production, increased export earnings and sustainable employment.
Edited by
Rosemary Aiyenale
