By Deep in the mineral-rich heart of Nasarawa State, the Solid Mineral Machinery and Equipment Development Institute (SOMMEDI) is fast emerging as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s industrial resurgence. Established under the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the institute is on a bold mission: to revolutionize Nigeria’s mining sector with locally designed, fabricated, and manufactured machinery.
Commissioned in May 2019, SOMMEDI represents a strategic shift from raw resource exportation to value-added production. Its facilities include a Mineral Processing Workshop, Wood Processing Unit, Gemological Laboratory, and Lapidary Workshop—all geared toward supporting small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in mining.
“SOMMEDI is building the technical foundation for Nigeria’s mineral wealth to translate into economic power,” said Stephen Enyi, the institute’s Overseeing Officer. “We are focused on empowering local players to process and profit from Nigeria’s vast deposits of gold, tin, iron ore, and more.”
The institute’s innovations include a soon-to-be-launched diesel mobile hammer crusher, designed to improve productivity and reduce manual labor in small-scale mining. Through such technologies, SOMMEDI is pushing Nigeria closer to industrial self-reliance and import substitution.
Abdullahi Usman Rasheed, Acting Head of Admin and HR, noted the institute’s commitment to “developing the machinery needed for optimal solid mineral use both locally and globally,” emphasizing the importance of collaboration in scaling SOMMEDI’s impact.
A key pillar of the institute’s approach is human capital development. SOMMEDI runs training programs on equipment operation, maintenance, and mine planning—empowering a new generation of skilled Nigerian technicians and miners. It also offers support services in mining optimization and site design, ensuring sustainability and efficiency in operations.
At its core, SOMMEDI is guided by NASENI’s “3Cs” philosophy—Collaboration, Creation, and Commercialization. It has forged partnerships with the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, universities, and global players to bring innovation to market.
SOMMEDI’s broader impact is already evident. By providing accessible, efficient tools to miners, it is increasing production, reducing poverty, and encouraging value-added industries like cement, ceramics, and glass manufacturing—all from locally sourced materials.
Executive Vice Chairman of NASENI, Khalil Halilu Suleiman, believes the institute is key to “Nigeria’s transition from a raw exporter to an industrial powerhouse.”
With continued investment and strong policy support, SOMMEDI is poised to be a catalyst for Nigeria’s long-envisioned economic diversification. It stands not just as a research hub, but as a model for innovation-driven growth in Africa’s extractive industries.
