Towards harnessing great benefits for the African continent, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday tasked African countries to transform the vast natural resources endowed present in the continent into real economic power.
Africans, he said, can no longer afford to remain a supplier of raw materials to the world, which come back to Africa in expensive finished products.
The President made the call while declaring open the 5th African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) 2026, at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. It was themed, “One Africa, One Resource Vision.”
Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, said other continents should not be allowed to reap the benefits of industrialisation and value addition at the detriment of the Africa continent.
Stressing that the future prosperity of Africa depends on its ability to process its minerals locally, build industrial capacity, and create value across the supply chain, he also tasked Africans to move beyond fragmented approaches to development and embrace a unified vision that prioritises beneficiation, manufacturing, and industrial growth.
The President pointed out that for generations Africa has been described by what lies beneath the soil, but that the question before leaders today is whether Africa will finally turn its wealth into power.
Harping that Africa’s strategic reserves of critical minerals has placed the continent at the heart of the global energy transition, he said that sustainable economic gains will only come when African countries move up the value chain.
He said “I believe Africa is ready. I believe our young people are ready. I believe our entrepreneurs are ready, and I believe our nations are ready, and I believe Nigeria is ready to play its part.
“Let this summit, therefore, send a clear message to the world. Africa is not waiting to be discovered. Africa is defining itself. We know our worth, we know our responsibility, we know our destination.
“From this gathering in Abuja, let us commit to a new compact: African resources for African transformation, African energy for African industrialization, and African cooperation for African prosperity.
“Let future generations say that when the world came searching for the minerals, for the energy and markets of tomorrow, Africa did not come divided, did not come unprepared. Let them say Africa came with one issue, one continent, one ambition, and one resource destiny.”
The President, therefore called on governments, investors, financial institutions, innovators, and the development partners represented at the Summit to act with courage, with speed, and with faith in Africa.
“Let the agreements reached here become projects. Let the projects become industries, and let the industries create jobs. Let the jobs create dignity, and let that dignity become the foundation of a new African century.” he stated
In his statement delivered earlier, the Minister of Solid Minarals Development, Dr Dele Alake, said the President Bola Tinubu’s administration has taken many key steps to reposition the sector, boost local minerals processing and attract investments into the sector.
To this end, the Minister, who was recently Re-elected and Chairman of the African Mineral Strategy Group (AMSG), said that more than 10,000 dormant mineral titles had been revoked to check speculation and make assets available to genuine investors.
According to him, the measures have attracted significant investments into the sector.
These, he said, included lithium processing projects worth 900milli9j and 600 million, a completed 200 million lithium processing facility commissioning, and a 1 billion iron ore project expected to strengthen domestic steel production.
He disclosed further that recent geological surveys have confirmed commercially viable deposits of lithium, nickel, copper, gold, platinum group metals, and other strategic minerals in Kaduna State and several other parts of the country.
The discoveries, he said, has further reinforced Nigeria’s ambition to become a leading destination for mining and mineral processing investments in Africa.
On the need for human capital development to drive the Africa’s industrial transformation, he said “The economy of the future will require geologists, engineers, metallurgists, data analysts and technology experts.
“Africa must ensure its young people are prepared to participate meaningfully in this transformation,” the Minister stated.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of solid minerals development, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo FNSE said the presence of the participants reflected the shared conviction that Africa’s abundant mineral resources remain a strong agent for sustainable growth, industrialization, and shared prosperity for the continent.
According to him, progress will not be solely measured by the resources been processed, but by the ability to transform them into products via industries for big decisions, marketing, and high and increase sustainable economic opportunities.
He therefore said AFNIS provides an important platform for governments, investors, developing institutions, industry leaders, and partners across board to mobilize for future growth.
The ministry, he said, is committed to creating an enabling environment for responsible investment. reforms, improve access to data, strengthen compliance policies, promotion of local value addition, and sustainable development.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his interventions in the sector towards achieving a $1 trillion economy by the year 2030, and Dr. Dele Alake, for the strategic leadership being given to the sector.
Moses Michael Engadu, Secretary-General of AMSG, said Africa is endowed with all the resources needed to become one of the world’s defining economic powers.
But to achieve that, he said African countries must work together and not compete in isolation.
He therefore called for more collaboration among African countries to achieve the goals of AFNIS.
At the Summit, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals Development, Senator Ekong Sampson, harped on the need to secure mineral assets towards transforming Africa’s natural wealth into tangible benefits for Africans.
On his part, the Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, Jonathan Gaza, said the Solid Minarals sector should be given high priority as it is key to boosting the economic fortunes of Nigeria.
He also noted the rising synergy between the executive and legislature arms of the government towards reforming the mining sector.
Other participants also delivered goodwill messages including representatives from South Sudan, Kenya, and Liberia.
Kania Maliki Andeyaba
Head of Press and Public Relations Department
24th June, 2026
