The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has called for stronger continental cooperation to transform Africa’s vast natural resources into drivers of industrialisation, job creation and long-term economic prosperity.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja ahead of the 5th African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS 2026), scheduled for 23–25 June at the State House Conference Centre, the Minister said the summit has evolved into a major continental platform for investment dialogue in the mining and energy sectors.
Alake said AFNIS, which began as an ambitious initiative five years ago, has grown into a respected forum bringing together African governments, investors, development finance institutions and industry leaders to shape the future of the continent’s resource economy.
According to him, the 2026 edition comes at a critical moment when global demand for critical minerals is rising rapidly, supply chains are being restructured, and countries are positioning themselves to attract strategic investments linked to the global energy transition.
He stressed that Africa must move beyond the export of raw materials and focus instead on value addition, industrialisation and regional integration.
“This year’s theme, ‘One Africa, One Resource Vision’, reflects the urgent need for coordinated action across African nations in managing shared resource opportunities,” he said.
The Minister explained that AFNIS 2026 has been designed with a stronger focus on implementation, featuring structured investor engagement sessions, sovereign meetings, CEO roundtables and project financing discussions aimed at translating dialogue into concrete deals.
He disclosed that senior government officials and ministers from countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Liberia and Mauritania are expected to attend, alongside major financial institutions, mining companies and technology providers.
Alake added that the presence of these stakeholders underscores growing consensus across Africa on the need for coordinated resource governance and investment strategies.
He also commended sponsors of the summit, including Romulus Mining as Title Sponsor, ASBA & Wisdom International Limited, Steron Mining Company Limited, and Xcalibur Smart Mapping, among others, for their support.
According to him, their participation reflects increasing investor confidence in Africa’s resource potential and reform direction.
The Minister urged the media to continue playing an active role in promoting informed discourse on mining, energy transition and industrial development, noting that public understanding is key to sustaining reforms in the sector.
“History will not judge Africa by the resources beneath its soil, but by what we do with them,” Alake said, adding that AFNIS 2026 represents a renewed commitment to unlocking Africa’s natural wealth for shared prosperity.
The summit is expected to produce policy and investment outcomes aimed at strengthening regional value chains, improving project financing frameworks and accelerating industrial development across the continent.
