By Obiabin Onukwugha
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has emphasised the need for Africa to aggressively transition from being a mere exporter of raw materials to becoming a global hub for industrialisation and wealth creation.
Alake made the submissions at at a press briefing ahead of the 5th African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) 2026, scheduled for June 23 to 25 at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said this year’s summit themed: “One Africa, One Resource Vision”, comes at a pivotal moment when the global energy transition is forcing countries to aggressively secure their supply chains.
According to Alake, who was represented by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Solid Minerals Company (NSMC), Mr. Martins Imonitie, Africa can no longer afford to miss out on the economic benefits of its vast natural resource endowment, especially as the global demand for critical minerals skyrockets.
He said: “AFNIS 2026 is built around a simple but powerful proposition that Africa must move from being merely a source of raw materials to becoming a centre of value creation, industrialisation, and shared prosperity.
“Our resources must become catalysts for economic transformation, job creation, technological advancement, infrastructure development, and long-term wealth creation for African people.”
The Minister noted that the summit, which was conceived five years ago, has evolved from a simple dialogue room into a highly respected continental platform that shapes real-world policy across mining, energy, and sustainable investment.
He said isolated national approaches to mining and energy are no longer viable in the face of modern economic realities, calling for deep, cross-border partnerships.
“Whether we are discussing critical minerals, energy infrastructure, regional value chains, industrial corridors, responsible sourcing, project financing, or technology transfer, the future lies in greater collaboration among African nations,” he said.
Alake stated that the three-day event will feature dedicated sovereign meeting rooms, investor engagement sessions, and project de-risking engagements.
“The objective is that participants should leave Abuja with new partnerships, new investment opportunities, and practical pathways for execution.
“A strong continental consensus is already forming around the event, with senior government officials and sector ministers expected from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Liberia, and Mauritania,” the Minister stated.
He stated that history will not judge Africa by the resources beneath its soil but by what we choose to do with those resources. “The challenge before us is therefore not one of endowment, but of vision, leadership, and execution,” Alake stated.
He described the summit as a definitive “statement of intent,” adding that, “Nigeria stands ready to welcome global markets to Abuja to forge a shared, high-value future of development for the continent.”
