09/01/2026
Dear friends and colleagues,
I’m really happy to finally share some great news. The SEG Nigeria Student Chapter (University of Port Harcourt) has now been officially approved.
This journey began in a very meaningful way when Shakirat Aminu (PhD), Henry Nule,Abdullahi Dauda , and I were sponsored through the Conference Accessibility Program (CAP) to attend the SEG conference in Windhoek, Namibia in 2024. What initially felt like a simple opportunity to attend a conference quickly grew into something much bigger. That experience opened doors, sparked important conversations, and helped shape the realization that Nigerian students in economic geology needed a stronger, more visible connection to the global SEG community.
Along the way, many people stepped in to support, guide, and encourage us, and I’m deeply grateful. I want to especially thank Lauren Terry, PhD, whose prompt, enthusiastic responses and genuine excitement made a real difference throughout this process. Her commitment to students and her willingness to engage at every step showed true care, and it meant a great deal to us. I’m also very thankful to Jennifer Craig for her executive support, and to Peace Zowa (Cand.Sci.Nat) for his encouragement, directives and strong representation of African students within SEG student council.
I sincerely appreciate,the 2024 SEG president Steve Piercey, for his support and belief in this initiative, and I’m grateful to the entire members of staff of the Society of Economic Geologists at the headquarters, whose dedication behind the scenes helped move everything from an idea to an official reality.
I also want to thank Chico Azevedo and David Cooke for their encouragement and professional support, as well as Halleluya Ekandjo for being part of the journey and offering support along the way.
Closer to home, I’m especially grateful to Ndukauba Egesi, our Academic Advisor, whose mentorship and steady guidance helped anchor this chapter at the University of Port Harcourt. I also want to thank our Industry Advisor,VICTOR DIYELMAK, for his insight, encouragement, and willingness to support students as they prepare for professional careers.
Seeing the Nigeria SEG Student Chapter officially come to life is both humbling and exciting. It represents opportunity, growth, collaboration, and a strong future for students and young professionals in economic geology. We’re looking forward to building a chapter that truly serves students and contributes meaningfully to the broader SEG community.
Thank you to everyone who played a role big or small in making this happen. This is very much a shared achievement.
Warm regards,
Paul Barida Visaa
President, SEG Nigeria Student Chapter
University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
