By Fatima Saka
ABUJA – The Federal Government has announced plans to launch the “Africans for Africa” Fund, a bold and strategic initiative aimed at mobilising African capital to support African priorities, industries, and infrastructure development.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake, disclosed this ahead of the 4th African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS 2025), slated to hold from July 15–17, 2025, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Represented by the Director General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office, Simon Obadiah Nkom, the Minister said the fund signifies a “shift in mindset,” urging African stakeholders to back the continent’s growth with its own resources.
“This is not a slogan; it’s a movement,” he said. “We must transition from being mere exporters of raw materials to manufacturers, refiners, and innovators on our own soil.”
Themed “Harnessing Local Content for Sustainable Development”, AFNIS 2025 is expected to bring together African leaders, investors, policymakers, and innovators to forge strategic partnerships that will deepen local industrialisation, energy transition, and sustainable development.
Dr. Alake highlighted key focus areas for the summit, including:
Local Industrialisation: Building factories to process Africa’s abundant raw materials into batteries, fertilizers, solar panels, and metals.
Energy Transition: Leveraging Africa’s renewable and gas resources to develop clean, reliable, and affordable energy for communities.
Sector Coordination: Integrating mining, agriculture, petrochemicals, and energy to drive long-term inclusive growth.
The Minister also revealed Nigeria will use the summit to present updates on reforms in the solid minerals sector, including:
Progress on local mineral processing;
Community development agreements;
Launch of the Nigeria Mineral Resources Decision Support System (NMRDSS);
New measures to attract responsible investment.
In a welcome address, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, underscored the urgency of the summit’s agenda, calling Africa’s vast natural and renewable resources a “launchpad” for a just energy transition and sustainable growth.
“Africa is not just a resource hub; it is a solution hub. This summit is a bold step toward unlocking that potential,” he said.
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Also speaking, the Director of Investment Promotion and Mineral Trade (IPMT) described AFNIS 2025 as “a catalyst for change”, pledging that the ministry is fully committed to making the summit a turning point for sustainable investment, local content growth, and regional integration.
“This is Africa’s opportunity to shape its own destiny,” he stated, while thanking the press for its role in mobilising awareness and shaping public perception ahead of the event.
AFNIS 2025 is expected to feature a Strategic Partnership Summit where deals and policies will be unveiled, and a Technical and Investment Forum focusing on ESG compliance, critical minerals, and agriculture-mining synergies.
