Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Mineral Development, has dismissed insinuating remarks that he was assigned away from his area of core competence, pointing out that he personally chose the Solid Mineral Development Ministry and was obliged by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Alake, who was among 45 ministers inaugurated on Monday by President Tinubu, said that unknown to many Nigerians, one area he has deep passion is the solid mineral which he described as the nation’s next growth factor.
Speaking inside the Presidential Villa shortly after being sworn in, Alake said that he chose to vie off from information and communication area to pursue his passion for solid mineral.
Asked to know how prepared he is in the role, the veteran journalist and communication expert said he is very prepared.
“Of course, I’m very prepared. It is funny really because all over the world and especially here in Nigeria, those who have been following the historical development, particularly the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu political system, would conclude that I will be in the Information Ministry, as if I’ve been pigeonholed into the information system. Of course, you don’t blame them because of the antecedents that are known.
“However, this was a deliberate choice. I chose it, I preferred it, and I made my choice known to Mr. President, and Mr. President kindly obliged me, and with concrete reasons.
“Now, the solid mineral, after oil, is the next growth factor for Nigeria’s economy. And that is so critical for the development of this country.
“We need someone with passion, that the president trusts, with a sense of responsibility and who is responsive to the yearnings of this nation. One that has the vision and those critical attributes that I always talk about that are critical to progressive leadership: vision, knowledge, courage. These are attributes the president needs in that critical sector of the economy. So, here I am.”
