How the Ijesa Mineral Resources Development Forum emerged as a community-driven response to responsible mineral resource management
👆Asiwaju Yinka Fasuyi in a strategic discussion with Mr. Ezekiel Olasupo Shadiya, FNMGS, FNAPE, Chairman, IMRDF and Chairman, Mining Trade Section, ILECCIMA, and Professor Gbenga Okunlola, Professor of Economic Geology, University of Ibadan.
The story of how Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi, the first Asiwaju of Ijesaland intervened in Ijesaland’s mining sector began with a disturbing question: What happens when a community blessed with mineral wealth begins to experience the consequences of its exploitation without adequate structures to protect its people, environment and economic interests?
By the final week of April 2020, troubling reports about illegal mining, the influx of outsiders into Ijesaland’s communities, rising security concerns and environmental hazards had begun to attract attention in the media. Beneath the promise of gold lay a growing concern about the future of the communities whose land held the precious mineral.
For Fasuyi, then Asiwaju of Ilesa, the developments demanded more than expressions of concern. They called for an organised response capable of bringing together the right people, confronting difficult questions and developing practical solutions to ensure that the mineral wealth of Ijesaland would not become a burden on the very people it ought to benefit.
The challenge was enormous. Mining involved not only the extraction of gold but also environmental protection, public health, community security, employment, investment opportunities, regulatory compliance and the fair distribution of economic benefits. Addressing these interconnected issues required expertise, integrity, painstaking consultations and a clear understanding that the interests of Ijesaland must remain paramount.
Then came Sunday, 10 May 2020.
Fasuyi began making telephone calls to carefully selected Ijesa sons and daughters whom he believed possessed the experience, professional competence and commitment needed to confront the emerging crisis. By midday, he had contacted 13 of the 16 people he had identified, and all 13 had agreed to join the initiative.
That same afternoon, an unexpected telephone conversation with the late Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Oba (Dr.) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, further reinforced the significance of the intervention. When the monarch asked whether Fasuyi had been following the reports about mining in Ijesaland, the Asiwaju was able to explain that he had already begun mobilising stakeholders and organising a response.
The monarch reportedly offered prayers and encouragement for the initiative.
What followed was not a hurried campaign built around public statements. Fasuyi began developing a structured framework that would bring together community interests, technical knowledge, stakeholder engagement and practical strategies for responsible mineral resource management.
The objective was ambitious: to change the way Ijesaland approached mining, moving from scattered concerns to coordinated action, and from merely watching mineral resources leave the communities to exploring how their exploitation could generate lasting socioeconomic benefits for the people.
But how could a community-driven initiative translate this vision into an organised programme capable of addressing the environmental dangers of mining while opening up opportunities for employment, investment and industrial development?
The answer began to take shape in the establishment of the Ijesa Mineral Resources Development Forum (IMRDF), a platform conceived to mobilise collective expertise and pursue a more sustainable future for mining in Ijesaland.
IMRDF: A Forum with a Clear Mission
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Established on 10 May 2020, the IMRDF was designed to provide a coordinated platform for promoting responsible mining, environmental sustainability, community participation and the equitable optimisation of mineral resources in Ijesaland.
Fasuyi’s initial consultations culminated in the Forum’s first business meeting on Sunday, 17 May 2020. Despite the disruptions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, members began working on strategies, gathering relevant information, establishing thematic working groups and preparing intervention plans.
VIDEO CLIP FROM IMRDF ADVOCACY & INTERACTIVE SESSION
VIDEO CLIP FROM IMRDF ADVOCACY & INTERACTIVE SESSION
By 19 July 2020, Fasuyi reported that the Forum had held 10 business meetings, apart from meetings of its various subcommittees. The initiative was therefore moving beyond the planning stage towards the implementation of its proposed programmes.
The Forum brought together professionals and stakeholders with experience in management, mining, environmental science, law, public affairs, governance and community development. Its approach was based on the understanding that the complexity of mining required a multidisciplinary response rather than an intervention by any single institution or professional group.
The central objective was to establish a framework through which mining could contribute to the prosperity of Ijesaland without compromising the health, security, environment and future economic interests of its communities.
From Vision to a Structured Programme
Fasuyi’s proposed terms of reference identified five complementary areas of intervention.
The first focused on gathering and analysing mineral resources data, including information on mineral deposits, mining locations, licence holders and applicable regulatory requirements. This was intended to provide a reliable information base for informed decisions and effective engagement with mining operators and government agencies.
The second centred on promoting environmentally friendly and sustainable mining practices. Proposed activities included environmental and health assessments of existing mining fields, soil testing, public advocacy and the development of appropriate environmental protection measures.
The third involved systematic engagement with traditional institutions, host communities, licensed miners, governments and security agencies. The objective was to build cooperation among stakeholders whose decisions and actions could determine the success or failure of responsible mining.
The fourth focused on public enlightenment and advocacy through electronic, print, social and community media. The Forum recognised that communities needed access to relevant information to understand the opportunities, risks and responsibilities associated with mining.
The fifth sought to maximise the economic benefits of mining for Ijesaland. Its proposals included community shareholding in mining enterprises, employment opportunities for Ijesa youths, local participation in mining supply chains, mining-related vocational development and the establishment of an Ijesa Mining Industrial Park.
Together, these priorities established a framework that went beyond environmental complaints. They placed community welfare, economic participation and long-term industrial development at the centre of the mining conversation.
Confronting the Environmental and Security Challenges
One of the most important aspects of the initiative was its recognition that the consequences of poorly managed mining extended beyond the immediate mining sites.
Land degradation, abandoned mining pits, potential water contamination, health hazards and threats to personal safety were among the concerns identified in the Forum’s intervention documents.
The IMRDF consequently developed advocacy messages aimed at encouraging communities and mining operators to adopt safer and more responsible practices.
Communities were encouraged to insist on the proper restoration of abandoned mining pits to reduce the risks of injuries and deaths. Environmental protection and responsible land management were also emphasised, alongside the need to preserve community resources for future generations.
The Forum further advocated greater awareness of the health implications of mining practices, appropriate management of mining environments and stronger community involvement in monitoring activities taking place on their land.
Security was treated as another shared responsibility. The Forum encouraged community leaders and residents to remain vigilant, monitor developments within their communities and cooperate with relevant authorities to address emerging security concerns.
These proposals reflected an important principle: mineral wealth should not be pursued at the expense of human life, environmental integrity or the security of host communities.
Taking the Message to Communities Across Ijesaland
The Forum’s strategy recognised that its objectives could not be achieved through meetings among professionals alone. The people directly affected by mining had to understand the issues and participate in shaping the response.
Consequently, plans were developed for consultations across the six local government areas of Ijesaland, with separate engagements involving local government chairmen and community representatives.
The proposed community consultations were designed to accommodate traditional rulers, youth leaders, religious leaders, political leaders and representatives of community associations. This approach was intended to give different segments of the population an opportunity to understand the challenges and contribute to the search for solutions.
In September 2020, the Forum commenced its stakeholder advocacy programme. Its engagements included a meeting with local government chairmen and political leaders, during which environmental protection and the socioeconomic benefits of mining featured prominently.
The programme also envisaged visits to individual communities and selected mining sites, with attention to the distinct concerns of host communities.
The Forum’s advocacy message was direct: communities needed to organise themselves, understand their rights, engage mining operators constructively and insist on practices that protected their collective interests.
It also emphasised that sustainable development could not be delivered by government officials alone. Communities had responsibilities of their own in monitoring activities, reporting harmful practices and ensuring that local interests were represented in discussions affecting their future.
This community-centred approach was a defining feature of the IMRDF initiative.
Segilola and the Question of Local Participation
A significant part of the Forum’s early work concerned the operations of Segilola, the large-scale gold mining enterprise operating in Ijesaland.
The issue was not simply whether gold could be mined profitably. It was also whether Ijesa people could participate meaningfully in the economic opportunities created by the industry.
In his July 2020 account of the Forum’s activities, Fasuyi outlined proposals for engaging the company on the employment of qualified Ijesa professionals and workers, patronage of local service providers and opportunities for Ijesa investors to acquire an interest in the enterprise.
The Forum also sought improved benefits for the host communities of Iperindo, Odo-Ijesa and Mogbara-Ijesa through engagement around existing Community Development Agreements and corporate social responsibility commitments.
These proposals reflected the Forum’s conviction that local communities should not remain passive observers while economic activities took place on their land.
Fasuyi also promoted the idea of enabling interested Ijesa sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora to explore investment opportunities in the mining business. The intention was to expand local participation and create a pathway through which the people could share in the industry's economic prospects.
The Forum’s engagement with Segilola began with a virtual meeting involving its management on 23 May 2020. A subsequent meeting on 18 July 2020 reportedly secured the company’s agreement in principle to most of the proposed areas of engagement.
These discussions formed part of the Forum’s broader effort to encourage constructive relationships between mining operators and host communities.
It is important to distinguish this engagement from an investigation into alleged wrongdoing. In a public response dated 19 July 2020, Fasuyi expressly denied that the IMRDF had been constituted by the Owa Obokun to investigate Segilola or that the Forum had been established to pursue allegations of fraud against the company.
He explained that its mandate was to promote the collective socioeconomic interests of Ijesaland through information, stakeholder engagement and responsible resource management.
That clarification underscored the Forum’s stated position: its work was intended to advance the interests of the community, not to substitute unverified allegations for evidence or constructive engagement.
Beyond Gold: The Industrialisation Ambition
Perhaps one of the most far-reaching elements of the IMRDF vision was its proposal to establish an Ijesa Mining Industrial Park.
The concept recognised that the economic value of mineral resources extended beyond extracting and selling raw materials. Related industries and services could create additional opportunities for employment, skills development, entrepreneurship and investment.
Among the opportunities identified in Fasuyi’s 2020 proposals were gold refining, lapidary activities, mining-related training and other businesses connected to the industry's supply chains.
Such an industrial development approach could potentially help Ijesaland retain a greater share of the economic value generated by its mineral resources while creating opportunities for young people and local enterprises.
The Forum also sought to explore opportunities associated with the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Initiative, launched by the Federal Government in July 2020, and advocated consideration of Ijesaland for relevant investments and interventions.
These proposals revealed that Fasuyi’s ambition extended beyond responding to the immediate problems associated with mining. He sought to place the sector within a broader development agenda in which mineral resources could support employment, investment and industrial growth.
The industrial park remained a proposal in the materials reviewed; its inclusion in the Forum’s plans should not be confused with evidence that the project was subsequently established.
Leadership by Example, Integrity and Transparency
The emergence of the IMRDF provides an illustration of Fasuyi’s stated approach to community leadership: identifying a problem, assembling people with relevant expertise and developing an organised response rather than waiting for events to dictate the agenda.
Leadership by example was reflected in his decision to initiate the process and mobilise stakeholders at a time when concerns about mining were gaining public attention.
Vision was evident in the effort to connect immediate environmental and security challenges with longer-term opportunities in employment, investment and industrial development.
Integrity featured prominently in the Forum’s stated commitment to community welfare, responsible investment and the protection of the interests of host communities.
Transparency informed its emphasis on gathering mining information, understanding licensing arrangements, educating communities and promoting informed engagement between operators and stakeholders.
Accountability was reflected in proposals for documenting mining activities, engaging relevant authorities and encouraging responsibility for environmental damage and the restoration of affected land.
These principles also informed the Forum’s approach to its own operations. In his July 2020 account, Fasuyi stated that members had funded their activities through personal contributions and had not received financial support from external sources.
The significance of this assertion lies in the emphasis placed on voluntary service, collective responsibility and the independence of the initiative.
The documentary record, however, establishes the Forum’s stated commitments and early activities more clearly than it establishes the long-term outcomes of every proposal. Assessing its full impact would require subsequent evidence of implementation, environmental improvements, employment outcomes, community benefits and the status of the projects it proposed.
A Collective Response to a Defining Challenge
The establishment of the Ijesa Mineral Resources Development Forum in May 2020 marked an organised attempt to address the complicated relationship between mineral exploitation, community welfare and sustainable development in Ijesaland.
Its early activities included stakeholder mobilisation, the development of thematic work programmes, engagement with mining operators, plans for community consultations and advocacy for environmental protection, local employment and economic participation.
The Forum’s approach rested on a fundamental proposition: the benefits of mineral resources should be considered alongside the responsibilities that accompany their exploitation.
For communities in Ijesaland, this meant that the mining conversation needed to encompass more than the presence of gold beneath the soil. It also needed to address the safety of residents, the condition of farmland and water resources, the restoration of mining sites, opportunities for young people and the participation of local businesses in the industry.
For investors and operators, the approach called for constructive engagement with host communities, responsible environmental practices and greater attention to the socioeconomic consequences of their operations.
For community leaders and public authorities, it highlighted the importance of information, coordination, vigilance and sustained engagement in protecting collective interests.
The IMRDF initiative therefore represents an important chapter in the account of Fasuyi’s decade of service in Ijesaland. It documents an attempt to transform mounting concerns about mineral exploitation into a structured programme of community engagement and responsible resource management.
Ultimately, the enduring value of this intervention will be measured not merely by the establishment of a forum or the articulation of ambitious proposals, but by the extent to which its objectives translate into safer mining practices, healthier communities, meaningful local participation and sustainable economic opportunities.
That is the larger promise behind the initiative: that the mineral wealth of Ijesaland should become a foundation for lasting community prosperity, rather than a source of avoidable environmental damage and lost opportunities.
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