Nigeria’s Dele Alake Urges Africa to Industrialise Its Minerals and Build a Green Industrial Future
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has called on African nations to end the era of exporting raw minerals and instead focus on industrialising their mineral resources to boost economic growth. Speaking at the African Mining Week in Cape Town, South Africa, Alake, who also chairs the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), urged African leaders to adopt policies that promote local processing, innovation, and green industrialisation across the continent.
Alake highlighted what he described as Africa’s long-standing paradox, a continent rich in natural resources yet under-industrialised. He stressed that while Africa’s minerals have powered the industrial revolutions of other regions, its own economies have remained dependent and underdeveloped. “Our youth should no longer seek jobs abroad while opportunities lie buried beneath their feet,” he said, urging that the time to industrialise is now. He called for a unified continental strategy to transform Africa from a supplier of raw materials into a driver of global mineral value chains.
During his keynote address themed “Vision & Strategy: Setting the Stage for Minerals Industrialisation,” the minister emphasised Africa’s strategic role in the 21st-century global economy, particularly in clean energy, digital technology, and advanced manufacturing. Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Farouk Yabo, Alake outlined Nigeria’s reforms aimed at revitalising the mining sector. These include revoking dormant licenses, promoting local beneficiation through gold refining and lithium processing, and strengthening governance and transparency to attract credible investors.
At a separate AMSG ministerial roundtable, Alake reaffirmed Nigeria’s goal of building a $1 trillion economy by 2030, partly driven by the solid minerals sector. He revealed that Nigeria is investing in digitising mining processes, from data accessibility to mineral traceability, and working to amend the 2007 Minerals and Mining Act to create a stronger legal framework for investment. The minister also stressed Nigeria’s commitment to responsible sourcing, ensuring that minerals are obtained only through licensed operators or registered artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM).
Echoing the position of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other resource-rich nations, Alake called for a continent-wide mapping of mineral resources to better understand the location, scale, and value of deposits. He emphasised that each country must ensure that only licensed operators engage in mining and that proper capacity is built for oversight and environmental protection. Nigeria’s delegation also participated in the Country Spotlight Session, showcasing the nation’s investment incentives, mineral potential, and reform agenda. The African Mining Week drew participants from Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Gambia, and major private sector players, underscoring Africa’s shared vision for a self-sustaining, industrialised mining future.
source: nairametrics