The Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) has launched its 2026 staff training programme for personnel of the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI) to strengthen professional ethics, improve productivity, and enhance service delivery in the gold mining sector.
The two-day programme, held on Thursday in Abuja, forms part of ongoing efforts to equip staff with the skills and knowledge required to perform effectively and uphold high workplace standards.
Focused on professional ethics and personal effectiveness, the training reinforces values such as integrity, accountability, teamwork, and time management. Officials said it also supports sector reforms, improves miners’ health and safety, and boosts productivity.
Speaking at the event, the SMDF Executive Secretary, Ms. Fatima Shinkafi, represented by her Personal Assistant, Abdullahi Odey, described the programme as a strategic initiative to strengthen work ethics and service delivery.
“This training is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening staff capacity, reinforcing professionalism, and enhancing service delivery across the agency,” she said.
Shinkafi emphasised that ethical conduct and personal discipline are vital for achieving organisational goals and advancing reform efforts. She highlighted professionalism, effective communication, teamwork, mutual respect, collaboration, and time management as essential to delivering quality public services.
According to her, a strong work ethic underpins organisational trust, operational efficiency, and a healthy workplace culture. She urged participants to maximise the opportunity for both personal and professional development, stressing that the agency’s success depends on the collective commitment of its workforce.
Also speaking, the founder of Coaching, Counselling and Allied Services, Amina Jambo, underscored the importance of effective time management as a foundation for personal and professional ethics.
In her remarks, SMDF Head of Corporate Communications, Ms. Idowu Jokpeyibo, described the training as a valuable platform for advancing mining reforms and urged participants to take it seriously. She commended the leadership for prioritising staff welfare and capacity development, noting that the initiative would help create jobs, raise productivity, and improve miners’ health and safety nationwide.
