Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, the Executive Director of Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa), has called on women-led mining organizations throughout Africa to set aside competition and prioritize strategic partnerships as a pathway to collective advancement.
Addressing a hybrid forum in Sierra Leone that convened women miners and entrepreneurs from across the continent, she emphasized the power of unity within the mining sector.
“True progress comes from collaboration, not rivalry. When women engage in counterproductive competition, it fractures our collective strength and impedes growth. Conversely, working together amplifies our influence and propels both the industry and Africa forward,” she stated.
Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji highlighted that the sustainability and growth of Africa’s mining sector depend heavily on women’s ability to foster mutual support through partnerships, joint ventures, and cooperative frameworks that promote shared success and resilience.
“In the realm of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), effective collaboration involves creating cooperatives where women combine their resources, expertise, and equipment to enhance productivity and safety standards,” she explained.
“For corporate entities, it means uniting strengths to build more robust organizations. In advocacy efforts, it requires launching collaborative initiatives that reinforce each other’s institutions rather than competing for visibility,” she added.
When asked about replicating WiM-Africa’s initiatives at grassroots and national levels, Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji encouraged local WiM chapters to adopt the organization’s proven frameworks and leadership development programs, particularly the flagship NextGen initiative designed to cultivate emerging female leaders in mining.
“Emulate every effective strategy WiM-Africa offers,” she urged. “The coming decade must witness a dynamic new wave of knowledgeable, capable women leading policy, innovation, ESG, and entrepreneurship within Africa’s mining landscape.”
She also stressed the importance of forging stronger connections between women-led mining enterprises and other key players in the mineral value chain, including sourcing firms, processing industries, and regulatory bodies. These alliances are critical to fulfilling the aspirations of the African Union’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
“Women are essential drivers of responsible mineral value chains and economic transformation,” Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji affirmed.
Concluding her remarks, she reiterated WiM-Africa’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and sustainable mining sector. She outlined the organization’s Five-Year Action Plan (2025-2030), which focuses on empowering women miners, enhancing cooperative networks, and advancing value addition initiatives continent-wide.
