Nigeria Takes the Lead in African Mining Collaboration

African Minerals Strategy Group Appoints Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development as Chairman

The newly established African Minerals Strategy Group has appointed Dele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, as its first chairman. This unanimous decision marks a pivotal moment in fostering collaboration among African countries in the mining sector.

The appointment of Minister Alake took place during the 30th edition of the Investing in Africa Indaba in Cape Town, South Africa. This event brought together ministers of Mineral Development from several African countries, including Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Chad, Botswana, Zambia, and Namibia. The presence of officials from over 15 countries demonstrates widespread support for this initiative, with an expectation for more nations to join forces under Nigeria’s leadership.

In his address, Minister Alake urged African leaders to unite in order to maximise the benefits of the continent’s mineral resources. He emphasised the necessity of unity in advocating for value addition as a means to attract further investment in the mining sector. Minister Alake highlighted the economic significance of the mineral resources in Africa, particularly in the context of the global energy transition. This underlines the importance of the continent’s solidarity in ensuring that its resources are used to drive economic growth and development.

The formation of the African Minerals Strategy Group stems from previous efforts by Nigeria and Uganda to rally African Ministers of Solid Minerals/ Mineral Resources. In a meeting held on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, both countries stressed the need for a unified approach in championing value addition in the mining sector to boost the economies of African nations.

The Minister also conveyed a strong message to potential investors, emphasising the importance of a consistent and unified regulatory framework across African countries. Minister Alake expressed that by demonstrating sincerity and resolve in working together, Africa will gain the respect and attention of the global community.

This significant development in the African mining sector has the potential to bring about positive change for the continent as a whole. With Nigeria at the helm of this collaborative effort, there is optimism for a more unified and effective approach to harnessing the wealth of mineral resources in Africa.