Over 1,000 Geo-Scientists across Nigeria and other African countries are to converge on Ilorin, capital of Kwara State from today for a week-long programme, as part of the activities marking the 52nd international conference of the Nigerian Mining and Geo- Sciences Society.

Discussions at the conference according to the National President of the Society, Prof Olugbenga Okunola who addressed a press conference in Ilorin, would be centred around diversification of the Nigeria economy from mono-economy to a more prosperous one.

He further explained that the conference was germane and necessary in order to salvage the country from the present situation, disclosing that over 2,000 presentations were expected from experts across Universities and others sectors across Africa. Prof Okunola further stressed that it was dangerous for a country like Nigeria to rely solely on oil and gas, saying that the time was now for the country to look inward and think outside the box.

He also attributed several problems facing the country to the lacking of good governance and appealed to the government at all levels to rise from their slumber and strive hard to make life meaningful to the citizenry. Prof Okunola also explained that the case of building collapse across the country and several other disasters were avoidable if Geo-Scientists were given free hand to operate.

He added that the society had significant roles to play in assisting the country to exploit the huge potentials in the country's solid and minerals sector. The President also appealed to the government not to play a lip service to the issue of diversification of Nigeria economy, stressing that experts should be carried along in the process of revamping the country's solid and minerals sector.

He therefore, stressed the need for the government to summon courage and political will to drive the sector for the benefit of all. Prof Okunola who emphasized that there were huge potentials in the sector disclosed that there were over 44 minerals deposit across the country in more than 88 locations.