Grace Njapau
At the 2025 International Day for Women in Mining (IDWIM) celebration, hosted by the African Women in Mining Association (AWIMA), Zambian mining entrepreneur and advocate Grace Njapau delivered a stirring message of self-determination, discipline, and financial empowerment to women and youth across Africa.
The virtual event, held under the theme “Voices of Resilience – Women and Youth Shaping Africa’s Mining Future,” brought together changemakers to spotlight personal stories, leadership journeys, and strategies to create a more inclusive and sustainable mining industry. Njapau’s contribution stood out as a powerful call to action.
Speaking passionately, Njapau emphasized that consistency, confidence, and clarity of purpose have been the backbone of her journey.“Mining is my business,” she declared. “If it’s mine, I must take full responsibility. I must challenge myself.”
She revealed that she has grown her mining and gemstone business without government or institutional loans, relying solely on personal sacrifice and dedication. Through self-funding, Njapau has traveled across Africa marketing Zambian and African gemstones, underscoring her belief in the continent’s untapped mineral wealth.“It’s not easy,” she admitted. “But when you know what you’re doing, the sky is the limit. You must be confident and consistent.”
She urged women to let go of limiting beliefs and cultural excuses, challenging them to redirect their resources into ventures that build wealth and create value.“We say we have no money to invest in mining, yet we have closets full of clothes and shoes,” she said. “Why not sell a few and buy a stone to cut and polish?”
Her message struck a chord with the audience: women must see themselves not as beneficiaries of goodwill but as active business owners, value creators, and drivers of transformation in Africa’s mining space.
“We must stop saying, ‘I’m a woman, I can’t do this.’ No. Let’s rise and say, ‘I will do this,’” she said.Closing her session, Njapau reminded participants that resilience and vision begin within. “It’s not about someone else’s dream. It’s about what you want to be. And that begins with you.”
Her remarks added a vibrant, unapologetic tone to a day focused on empowerment, resilience, and rewriting the narrative for African women and youth in the mining sector.
