Mining
SROL Wins Three Major Honours at Nigeria’s First Solid Minerals Excellence Awards
Segilola Resources Operating Limited (SROL), operator of the Segilola Gold Mine, emerged as one of the biggest winners at the maiden edition of the Solid Minerals Excellence Awards (SOMEA) held in Abuja.
The awards ceremony, which took place at the Abuja Continental Hotel on 14 May 2026, gathered major stakeholders in Nigeria’s solid minerals industry to recognise excellence, innovation and contributions to the sector.
SROL secured three major awards after receiving five nominations. The company won:
SOMEA Gold Mining Company of the Year
SOMEA Outstanding Gold Producer of the Year – Main Category
SOMEA Outstanding Gold Producer of the Year – Mines Inspectorate Category
The recognition comes as Nigeria intensifies efforts to diversify its economy beyond oil, with the mining sector increasingly positioned as a key growth driver.
Why the Awards Matter
Nigeria’s solid minerals industry has attracted renewed government attention in recent years as authorities seek to boost exports, create jobs and increase foreign investment.
Industry analysts say the emergence of companies such as SROL highlights the potential for large-scale mining operations to contribute significantly to national revenue and rural development.
In 2025, the Segilola Gold Mine produced 94,130 ounces of gold, strengthening its position as one of the country’s leading gold producers.
Mining experts also point to the importance of operational safety and community engagement in an industry often criticised for environmental and labour concerns.
Company Reacts to Recognition
SROL’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Ijeoma Ohiaeri, described the awards as recognition of the company’s long-term commitment to responsible mining practices.
“We are proud to receive these awards in recognition of our impact and efforts. However, our commitment to excellence and responsible mining goes far beyond accolades; it is deeply rooted in the company’s ethos and values.”
The company said its workplace safety achievements are supported by its internal safety management framework known as “SROLSafe”.
SROL added that it remains focused on maintaining strong relationships with host communities through development projects and stakeholder engagement initiatives.
Community and Industry Impact
The mining company said the awards reflect its broader efforts to create long-term value for communities surrounding its operations.
Experts say sustainable engagement with host communities is becoming increasingly important in Nigeria’s extractive industries, where tensions over environmental impact and economic benefits have historically affected operations.
Industry observers also note that stronger compliance with occupational health and safety standards could help improve investor confidence in Nigeria’s mining sector.
What’s Next for Nigeria’s Mining Sector?
The Federal Government has repeatedly identified solid minerals as a strategic sector capable of supporting economic diversification and reducing dependence on crude oil exports.
Analysts believe recognition platforms such as SOMEA could encourage improved standards, competition and transparency across the industry.
As commercial mining activities expand, stakeholders are expected to pay closer attention to environmental sustainability, community relations and regulatory compliance.
Segilola Resources Operating Limited (SROL), Nigeria’s first commercial gold mine operator, has been awarded three major national honours recognising its contributions to community development, employee welfare and engineering standards.
The awards come at a time when mining communities across Nigeria are demanding greater social responsibility, transparency and long-term investment from operators.
Segilola wins top CSR award in Lagos
SROL was named Community Development Champion of the Year at the Social Impact and Sustainability Awards (SISA), held on 28 November at the MUSON Centre in Lagos.
The award celebrates the company’s work in education, skills training, local enterprise support, infrastructure, health programmes and environmental protection.
Austin Menegbo, SROL’s Country Manager, said the award reinforces the firm’s long-term commitment to its host communities.
“This award reaffirms our belief that our relationship with our host communities should be symbiotic and that our initiatives should be intentional, relevant and impactful,” Mr Menegbo said.
“We are honoured by this recognition and remain committed to creating lasting value for our host communities and Nigeria at large.”
Ministry honours SROL for ‘Decent Work’ standards
The company also received a landmark Award of Excellence: Upholding the Principle of Decent Work from Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment — the first of its kind to be issued to any organisation in the country.
The ministry said the recognition highlights SROL’s adherence to safe working environments, fair labour practices, employee development and global HR standards.
The award was received on behalf of the company by senior staff members, Oluwaseun Fagesi and Olusola Olusomidomo.
They said SROL will continue to promote dignity, safety, inclusion and career growth at all levels of its operations.
Engineering body recognises mining operations
On 27 November, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Ilesa Branch, honoured SROL with its Distinguished Corporate Award for contributions to engineering development in the mining sector.
The honour was presented during the association’s distinguished lecture and inauguration of its 2025 executives.
The event, themed “Engineering and Operations in the Mining Industry”, highlighted the importance of technical innovation in the sector.
Engr. Olusola Olusomidomo, SROL’s Operations Manager and Deputy General Manager, delivered the keynote lecture, outlining what he described as “a comprehensive framework for managing engineering and operations in mining projects”.
“Engineering is the backbone of modern mining and Nigeria must invest more in technical capacity to scale production safely.” — Engr. Olusomidomo.
Impact on communities and the mining sector
SROL says its programmes are designed to ensure that mining benefits outlive the life cycle of operations.
Industry analysts say this model — blending engineering standards with community engagement — could help reshape Nigeria’s mining landscape, which has long faced criticism for poor regulation, unsafe practices and low community returns.
What’s next
SROL says it plans to expand training opportunities for young people in mining communities, deepen collaboration with regulators and scale its environmental sustainability programmes in 2025.
The company has also hinted at new partnerships aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s mining engineering ecosystem.
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