When Murtala Laushi steps into a boardroom, theres an unmistakable mix of energy and calm that fills the roomlike the low rumble of an oncoming train. As chairman and CEO of Malcomines, Laushi has steered the once-modest outfit into a titan of Nigerias mining and mineral resources sector. Through a blend of strategic tenacity and a personal touch, hes built a company that today spans iron ore, copper, tin, and rare earth elementsetched into the very landscapes of Nigerias north-central territories.
The Road to MalcominesBorn in Jos in the early 1970s, Laushi grew up amid the towering tin hills and fading colonial mine shafts that carpet Plateau State. His childhood fascination with the lands hidden bounty was nurtured by long afternoons spent with his grandfather, a retired mining supervisor whod recount tales of bygone boomtowns and boom-and-bust cycles.
Laushi went on to study geology at Ahmadu Bello University, immersing himself in fieldwork across Osun, Ondo, and Kogi. Those early years as a field geologist hardened himphysically and intellectually. He watched the machinery break down, saw naive investors flee after a single failed assay, and sensed gaps between Nigerias immense potential and global investor readiness.
By the time he founded Malcomines in 2003, Laushi had already earned a reputation as a dealmakersomeone who could navigate both rural chiefs and international finance houses with equal ease.
Scaling Quickly but ThoughtfullyMost mining startups in Nigeria shrink or stall. Malcomines didnt. Under Laushis watchful leadership, the company secured its first export permit in 2006, shipping concentrated iron ore to steel plants in Asia. A decade later, he negotiated a joint-venture agreement with a mid-tier Chinese miner to develop copper deposits in Benue State.