Dr Comfort Asokoro - Ogaji

Personal Profile

Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji is a visionary entrepreneur and philanthropist who has made significant contributions to the advancement of Africa's development landscape. She is the driving force behind several impactful ventures aimed at fostering economic growth and empowerment across the continent.

As the founder of Women in Mining Africa (WIM-Africa), Comfort is dedicated to empowering women in the mining sector, providing them with opportunities for education, training, and support to thrive in traditionally male-dominated industries.

In addition to her work with WIM-Africa, Comfort has established a network of companies focused on providing consulting services for capital investment projects in Africa. These include Richflood International Ltd in Nigeria, Richflood LLC in the USA, and Richflood Ltd in England and Wales. Through these entities, she facilitates strategic partnerships and investments spanning a diverse range of sectors critical to Africa's development, including power, mining, transport, construction, oil & gas, manufacturing, and agriculture.

Complementing these core businesses are subsidiaries such as Richflood Laboratories Ltd, which specializes in environmental testing and geo-analytical services, particularly for mineral ore testing. The Richflood Learning Centre offers educational programs and training opportunities tailored to the needs of industries served by Comfort's enterprises. Richflood Analytical Instruments Ltd provides cutting-edge tools and technology to support various analytical needs within these sectors.

Beyond her entrepreneurial endeavours, Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji is deeply committed to giving back to society. Through the Richflood International Foundation, she channels resources and support to charitable initiatives aligned with her mission of promoting sustainable development and empowerment across Africa.

Comfort's multi-faceted approach to business and philanthropy reflects her unwavering dedication to driving positive change and prosperity in Africa, making her a true leader and trailblazer in her field.

"I am dedicated to championing women in artisanal and small-scale mining. In my role as Founding Executive Director of WIM-Africa, I collaborate closely with diverse women's groups to spearhead initiatives that advance the ventures of artisanal and small-scale women miners across Africa, with a core focus on promoting gender equality and social justice. My passion lies in enhancing women's economic empowerment through advocacy for workers' rights and the implementation of fair and inclusive economic policies tailored to the needs of artisanal women miners. I am committed to building their capacities, providing mentorship on grant and loan readiness, and facilitating support for women-owned organizations, while also fostering collaborative partnerships to drive meaningful progress in this field."

With an extensive background encompassing work across more than 200 mine sites in Nigeria by 2023, I have witnessed firsthand the myriad challenges faced by women miners daily. From enduring poor working conditions and limited access to resources to confronting gender-based discrimination and violence, these women often labour in the shadows of neglect and marginalization. Recognizing the urgent need for support, particularly for those with the most vulnerable mindsets, I have been driven to take action.

Through ongoing conversations with diverse women's groups spanning various communities across Africa, it has become abundantly clear that these challenges are not isolated but widespread. This realization has fueled my passion to contribute meaningfully to existing efforts aimed at enhancing the sustainability and well-being of women miners. Collaborating with like-minded individuals, I am committed to bridging existing gaps through targeted interventions.

My approach centres on a multifaceted strategy encompassing capacity-building programs, value reorientation, and the mitigation of sexual and gender-based violence. Additionally, I prioritize increasing environmental, safety, and health awareness among women miners while advocating for the mainstreaming of gender considerations in governmental policies and legislation.

Ultimately, my goal is to catalyze positive change within the African Solid Minerals sector, propelling it toward a future characterized by effective and efficient exploration, processing, and trading. Central to this vision is the empowerment and elevation of African women, positioning them at the forefront of the sector's development and prosperity.

Looking forward, my dedication lies in collaborating with fellow stakeholders to propel the solid minerals sector of Africa to new heights. I harbour a deep-seated passion for African development economics, which has led me to consider enrolling in a Master’s Program in Development Economics at City, University of London, while maintaining an active presence in Africa.

Together with like-minded individuals across the continent, we harness the platform provided by the School of Africa Development Economics (SADE) to drive impactful change, with a particular emphasis on advancing the solid minerals sector, by the grace of God.

Furthermore, I am steadfast in my commitment to providing leadership in the implementation of programs and projects for the Initiative for Women Miners in Africa.

My unwavering passion compels me to continually seek learning opportunities, cultivate professional networks, and hone problem-solving skills to address the myriad challenges facing the African region.

Amidst countless uncertainties, I hold a steadfast vision of contributing my part in positioning Africa as an environmentally sustainable, socially stable, and economically resilient continent.