Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has called on African nations to shift from being mere suppliers of raw minerals to becoming global leaders in mineral processing, innovation, and green industrialization.
Dr. Alake made this call while speaking at the prestigious African Mining Week held in Cape Town, South Africa.
In a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, the Minister describes Africa’s long-standing role in fueling global industrial growth with its mineral wealth as a paradox, stressing that the time has come for the continent to industrialize from within.
“The vision is to pivot Africa’s minerals from extraction to transformation, empowering our youths and driving sustainable economies across the continent”
It notes that under Dr. Alake’s leadership, Nigeria is spearheading key reforms to unlock the full potential of its solid minerals sector.
“These include incentivizing local beneficiation such as gold refining and lithium processing, and revoking inactive mining licenses to attract serious investment”
The statement emphasizes that governance reforms are being advanced to enhance transparency and ensure that only credible partners engage in Nigeria’s mining landscape.
While featuring at the African Minerals Strategy Group, AMSG, ministerial roundtable, Dr. Alake reiterated Nigeria’s ambition to build a $1 trillion economy by 2030, with mining playing a central role.
It highlights ongoing efforts to digitize mining operations for improved data access and mineral traceability, along with amendments to the 2007 Minerals and Mining Act to provide a stronger legal framework for investors.
“Our minerals must be sourced only from licensed operators or registered artisanal miners to ensure sustainable and lawful practices,” he states.
The statement stresses the importance of comprehensive mineral mapping across African nations, as well as robust regulatory oversight to safeguard resources and drive maximum value.
It adds that Nigeria’s commitment was further showcased during the country spotlight session, where the Permanent Secretary outlined investment opportunities and incentives, highlighting Nigeria’s rich mineral endowments.
The African Mining Week brought together ministers and key stakeholders from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Gambia, and major private sector players—reinforcing a shared continental vision for leveraging mineral resources to power Africa’s industrial future.
