Expert Exposes Students to Opportunities in Precious Stones

A gemologist from the Colorado School of Mines, Ms Jenna White, has exposed the Students of the Department of Geosciences, University of Lagos to Opportunities in precious stones.

White, a PhD student, made a presentation on Transparent and Traceable Gemstones in Supply Chains when she was the guest speaker at the Town & Gown Series 2.0 of the Geosciences Department.

She introduced the Students to the basics of gems and the discipline of Gemology, a science of studying, cutting and valuing precious stones.

While enumerating the international prospects of the field and opportunities it holds for specialists, she said, “As a student of Geology and Geosciences, you are truly sitting on a gold mine, as far as your career prospects are concerned.”

“Gemology is one area of specialization that many people are not looking at… Nigeria has tons of gems but … it has not developed the capacity to capture the values in a supply chain that unites the mines to the market. There are huge opportunities for people with a scientific mind in the industry,” White said.

She commended the Department of Geology, saying, “What your faculty has done is to link you with the industry early, so that you do not leave here only with a piece of paper.”

White charged the students to look very closely at the entire value chain of gems mining and sales in Nigeria, identify their place in it, and occupy it with determination, diligence, and an adaptable mind that is willing to learn.

Commenting, the Head of Department, Professor A.M. Odukoya disclosed, “The idea behind this seminar is to bring in the industry so that you are immediately exposed to the practical aspect of the theory we teach.”

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