By Obiabin Onukwugha
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has emphasised the need for Africa to unite so as to fully utilise the boom in critical minerals, saying that the continent is yet to get the full value of the sector.
Alake, who is also the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), made the submissions, while delivering a Keynote Address at the Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition 2026, which took place between April 28-29, in Nairobi under the theme: “Partnerships for Prosperity: Advancing Value-Led Mining in Kenya”, on Wednesday.
He said Africa must urgently redefine its role in the global mineral economy, stressing that such transformation can only be achieved through coordinated regional efforts rather than isolated national strategies.
“For too long, we have exported raw materials and imported finished goods. That approach has held back our growth and limited opportunities for our people. No single country can change this alone. We need to align our policies, build shared infrastructure and deepen trade among ourselves,” he said.
He stated that while Africa possesses vast deposits of lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite, gold, copper, nickel and rare earth elements, the continent continues to capture only a fraction of the true economic value generated from its resources.
He urged African nations to harmonise mining policies, facilitate cross-border infrastructure, promote intra-African trade and strengthen regional mineral value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He also highlighted the rapid expansion of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, which was established in January 2023 by sixteen founding member states and has now grown to thirty-one African countries,.describing it as the first truly continent-wide platform through which African countries are building a unified voice on mineral governance, value retention and strategic positioning in global supply chains.
According to him, the Group is advancing cooperation among member states to negotiate fairer terms with global partners, harmonise regulatory frameworks, develop shared infrastructure such as mineral corridors and processing hubs, and strengthen geological data systems to attract investment.
“Value addition is not merely an economic aspiration; it is a development imperative. It creates jobs for our youth, stimulates industrialisation, expands government revenues and positions Africa competitively in the industries of the future.
“Through visionary leadership, strategic partnerships and continental cooperation, Africa can transition from being merely resource-rich to becoming truly value-rich,” he said.
Alake further stated that the ongoing restructuring of global supply chains presents Africa with a historic opportunity, but warned that success would require stronger governance, policy consistency, transparency, environmental responsibility and investment-friendly climates.
