Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has called for stronger regional cooperation among African countries to unlock the continent’s full potential in the global solid minerals market. Speaking at a mining investment conference in Kenya, Alake stressed that Africa must act collectively to benefit from growing global demand driven by clean energy, digital transformation, and advanced manufacturing.
According to him, Africa is richly endowed with critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, gold, copper, and rare earth elements, placing the continent at the centre of a new industrial era. However, despite these vast resources, African nations continue to capture only a fraction of the value generated, largely due to their long-standing role as exporters of raw materials rather than producers of finished goods.
Alake noted that this economic model has slowed industrial growth, weakened resilience, and limited job creation across the continent. He warned that no single African country can fully maximise the opportunities in the rapidly evolving global minerals market alone, emphasising that collaboration is no longer optional but necessary for sustainable progress.
To address this, the minister urged African nations to harmonise mining policies, strengthen cross-border infrastructure, and deepen intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area. He also highlighted the growing influence of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, which has expanded from 16 founding members in 2023 to 31 countries, providing a unified platform for mineral governance and global negotiations.
Alake further stressed the importance of value addition within Africa’s mining sector, noting that processing and manufacturing minerals locally would drive industrialisation, create jobs, and boost government revenues. While he described the ongoing restructuring of global supply chains as a historic opportunity, he cautioned that success will depend on strong governance, transparency, and investment-friendly policies, urging African nations to work together to secure a stronger position in global mineral supply chains.
source: The cable