The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Arake, called for a bold new vision to transform Africa from just a supplier of raw minerals to a global hub for mineral processing, innovation and green industrialization.
A statement from Segun Tomori, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Minister, quoted Arake as saying, “Africa’s minerals have driven the industrialization of other regions, but our economy remains under-industrialized. This paradox must end. Our vision of moving from extractive dependence to innovative industrialization must be clear.”
“With these words, Dr. Dele Arake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chairman of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), asserted a bold new vision to transform Africa from a source of raw minerals to a global hub for mineral processing, innovation and green industrialization.
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“Delivering a keynote address on the theme ‘Vision and Strategy – Setting the Stage for Mineral Industrialization’ at Africa Mining Week in Cape Town, South Africa, Dr. Alake highlighted the continent’s strategic role in driving 21st century economies through its vast mineral resources. ”
He noted that Africa has the world’s richest mineral deposits, stressing that these resources are essential for clean energy, digital technologies, advanced manufacturing and global security.
“Our youth should no longer seek jobs abroad when the opportunities lie beneath their feet. The time to industrialize is now. Let us not only participate in the global mineral economy, but also set the stage to lead Africa’s future,” the Minister asserted.
Highlighting ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s mining sector, the Minister, represented by Permanent Secretary Farouk Yabo, said the country was encouraging local concessions from gold smelting to lithium processing. Revoking dormant licenses to encourage serious investment. Strengthen governance and transparency and develop a national critical minerals strategy to attract trusted global partners.
In a related development, the Minister was speaking at the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) Ministerial Roundtable held on the sidelines of Mining Week, where he highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to create a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
He said: “We are investing in the digitization of the mining process, from data accessibility to mineral traceability. We are also committed to bequeathing strong institutions and appropriate policies to drive reform. As such, there are ongoing efforts to amend the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 to provide a stronger legal framework to facilitate investment in the mining sector.”
He highlighted Nigeria’s efforts to ensure traceability from extraction to monetization, asserting that the country’s minerals are to be sourced from two sources. One is authorized holders and the other is sellers and suppliers who buy from registered and duly registered artisanal and small-scale miners (ASMs).
Mr Arake echoed the views expressed by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), stressing that African countries need to prioritize mineral resource mapping to better understand the location and scale of mineral deposits.
“After national mapping, it is incumbent upon each country to ensure that only licensed operators carry out mining. They also need to build appropriate capacity for effective supervision,” he said.
Nigeria was also well represented at the country spotlight session where the Permanent Secretary made a presentation on investment opportunities in the solid minerals sector, highlighting key reforms, investment incentives and an overview of the country’s mineral resources.
Africa Mining Week was attended by the Mining and Minerals Ministers of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone. Nigeria, Gambia and Ghana sent representatives, and the continent’s major private sector companies also attended the meeting.
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