By MARTHA AGAS

The Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) has begun its 2026 training for the staff of the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI) to drive reforms in the gold mining sector.

The training on professional ethics and personal effectiveness was part of a series of capacity-building programmes by the SMDF aimed at equipping PAGMI`s staff with the skills and knowledge to perform their duties diligently.

Speaking at the two-day capacity building on Thursday in Abuja, the SMDF`s Executive Secretary, Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi said the training aimed to strengthen work ethics, enhance productivity and improve overall service delivery.

Represented by her Personal Assistant, Alhaji Abdullahi Odey, she emphasised the importance of staff upholding the highest standards of integrity, transparency and accountability in the performance of their duties.

“This training is a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening staff capacity, reinforcing professionalism and enhancing service delivery across the agency,” she said.

Shinkafi said that ethical conduct and personal discipline were critical to achieve organisational goals and reforms agenda.

She said that core values such as professionalism, effective communication, teamwork and collaboration, mutual respect and effective time management were essential for staff to provide high-quality public services.

According to her, strong work ethic remains the cornerstone of organisational trust, operational efficiency and a healthy workplace culture.

The SMDF’s boss urged participants to seize every opportunity for personal and professional growth, emphasising that the agency’s future relied on collective commitment and workforce effectiveness.

In her remarks, the founder of Coaching, Counselling and Allied Services (CCAS), Hajiya Amina Jambo, facilitators of the training, underscored the importance of effective time management as the foundation for developing strong personal and professional ethics.

On her part, the SMDF`s Head of Corporate Communications, Mrs Idowu Jokpeyibo, said the training provided an opportunity to advance the actualisation of mining reforms which participants should not take for granted.

Jokpeyibo commended the SMDF`s boss for prioritising staff welfare and capacity development, thus creating an enabling environment for personal and organisational growth.

NAN reports that the PAGMI was conceived to provide artisanal miners access to markets through a National Gold Purchase Programme, promote safer and more efficient mining and ensure responsible sourcing.

The initiative also seeks to create jobs, boost productivity, and improve miners’ health and safety (NAN)