By Fatima Saka
In Paris, at the ongoing Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forum, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Oladele Alake has called for a paradigm shift in Africa’s approach to its mineral resources, thereby urging the continent to move away from its traditional role as a raw-material exporter and toward becoming a leader in value-added processing and high-value mineral supply chains.
He emphasized that Nigeria’s focus is on unlocking inclusive growth from the continent’s vast mineral wealth.
In his address, Dr. Alake said, “As chair of the Africa Mineral Strategy Group (AMSG), I work closely with my counterparts across the continent to advance a shared agenda of value addition, resource mobilization, and responsible development.”
Alake also underscored the importance of global partnerships in building a resilient and sustainable mining sector. He said that such collaboration is key to transforming Africa’s mineral industry.
He highlighted the critical role of mining in the global shift toward greener energy and the need for smarter site selection, optimized operations, sustainable processing, effective waste management, and strong environmental stewardship, “these are responsibilities owed to future generations, not just policy aspirations”.
He framed the global energy transition as a pivotal moment for leadership, telling delegates, “With the emergence of the global energy transition, there has never been a more critical moment for decisive leadership. The future of electricity, transportation,
telecommunications, and indeed global prosperity depends on the work we do here. Let us embrace this opportunity, not just to discuss change, but to drive it.” He emphasized that Africa should seize this opportunity and lead change in the mining sector.
He then outlined Nigeria’s proactive steps to attract investment into its solid minerals sector, citing the investor friendly incentives such as import duty waivers, accelerated capital allowances, and tax holidays. He noted that these incentives are being implemented alongside robust reforms prioritizing sustainable extraction, domestic processing, and enhanced infrastructure connectivity.
He said these reforms are already yielding results. He pointed to recent statistics as evidence of this progress. “In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Nigeria generated N6.96 billion in mining license fees, formalized over 1,200 artisanal and small-scale mining cooperatives, and registered 118 private mineral buying centers. Our Mining Cadastral Office processed nearly 1,000 title applications, with hundreds of licenses approved to accelerate responsible development,” he stated.
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He highlighted Africa’s strategic importance in the global energy transition, noting the continent’s growing share in the supply of critical minerals such as cobalt, lithium, copper, and tantalum.
He stressed that building resilient, transparent, and ethical mineral supply chains requires collaboration among governments, the private sector, civil society, and local communities. He made clear that Africa can fully leverage its mineral wealth only through such multi-stakeholder collaboration.
