The Federal Government has underscored the importance of value-addition to minerals in Nigeria and other nations of Africa, stating that the mineral resources of the continent must be harnessed in ways that will guarantee wealth creation and economic prosperity of the continent.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who made the declaration at the Opening Ceremony of the 4th edition of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS), on Wednesday, in Abuja, said the nations of Africa are united to ensure value-addition to its mineral ores.
Tinubu, who was represented at the ceremony by Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Henry Oladele Alake stated: ‘As we invite investment, we must be clear: we are not looking for charity, nor are we outsourcing our development. We welcome partners, those who see Africa not just as a source of raw materials, but as a destination for innovation, manufacturing, and shared value.’
According to the President, ‘Nigeria seeks partnerships that are fair, transparent, and founded on mutual respect,’ adding that the country and continent desires responsible investments and joint ventures where African companies and communities have real equity.
‘It means insisting on local content policies that foster skills development and supply chain growth. It means securing fair financing so we are not burdened with unsustainable debt, but instead empowered to co-create prosperity.
While saying that Nigeria is proud to have collaborated with regional partners, such as the Africa Finance Corporation, to derisk projects in mining and infrastructure, he noted that ‘such a model, where African institutions finance African priorities, must be scaled up across sectors.’
He stated: ‘The future of this continent will not be written in Washington or Beijing; it will be written in Abuja, Cairo, Addis Ababa, Pretoria, and Kinshasa,’ adding that the time to act is now.
‘Let us not speak of Africa as a continent of problems, but as a continent of possibilities.
‘Let this summit in Abuja be remembered as the moment when African ambition was matched with action, when we came together not as individual nations, but as a unified bloc determined to build a new chapter of industrial power and energy sovereignty.
President Tinubu, who quoted former President of the Congo, Patrice Lumumba as saying that, “Africa will write its own history,” called on the leaders of the continent to create a legacy of sustainable development for the continent, saying: ‘Let us ensure it is a history of dignity, of enterprise, of transformation.’
Discussing what expectations are for the Summit, the president said: ‘Here in Abuja, let us raise our collective voice, commit to real change, and begin building a future powered by African minerals, fueled by African energy, and led by African resolve,’ assuring that Nigeria is ready to work with other nations and global partners in the interest of mutual development.
Kenyan Cabinet Secretary and Minister of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Hassan Ali Joho commended the African continent for identifying problems that inhibited its development for a long time.
Joho agreed with President Tinubu that it is time for African countries to work together to create jobs and ensure that the mineral resources of the continent is harnessed to ensure improvement in quality of life of the people of the continent.
In his address, the Chief Executive Officer of Thor Exploration, Mr. Segun Lawson commended the Nigerian government for providing geoscience data to investors
