Africa’s Mineral Future Begins in School: WiM-Africa Advances NextGen Programmes
Folalumi Alaran in Abuja Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa) has reaffirmed its commitment to building Africa’s future natural resource and minerals workforce through its ongoing NextGen programmes under the WiM-Africa
Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa) is pioneering initiatives to prepare African children and young people for leadership roles in the continent's mineral and natural resource economy. The organization's NextGen programmes, outlined in its Action Plan 2030, seek to integrate into African countries' education systems, preparing children and young people for meaningful participation in natural resource industries from an early age.
The two flagship programmes are the Future Minerals Leaders Club and the NextGen Mining & Leadership Academy. The Future Minerals Leaders Club targets primary school learners aged 8-13, introducing them to natural resources, environmental responsibility, leadership, teamwork and citizenship through school club activities. The NextGen Mining & Leadership Academy is for secondary school and TVET-linked learners aged 13-20, focusing on responsible mining, geoscience awareness, environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, mine safety, gender inclusion, leadership, communication, mineral value chains, and career readiness.
WiM-Africa's Executive Director, Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, emphasized that the foundation for Africa's mineral economy lies in the minds of young people today. She stressed the crucial role of Ministries of Education in shaping the continent's future leadership pipeline, advocating for early investment in education, mentorship, school clubs, and structured exposure to the sector.
The organisation is offering implementation manuals, concept notes, session modules, facilitator guidance, reporting tools, and country adaptation templates as free open-source resources for Ministries of Education, schools, TVET institutions, women-in-mining organizations, and implementing partners across Africa. WiM-Africa invites various stakeholders to collaborate in adapting and scaling up the NextGen programmes, ensuring that every African child, regardless of location, gains the knowledge and skills needed for a prosperous future in the mineral and natural resource sector.
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