Nigeria Strengthens African Mining Leadership as Minister Alake Confirms African Mining Week 2026 Participation
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, H.E. Dr. Oladele Henry Alake, has confirmed his participation in African Mining Week (AMW) 2026, scheduled for 14–16 October in Cape Town, South Africa. His attendance underscores Nigeria’s growing influence in shaping the future of Africa’s mining sector.
The announcement follows a high-level meeting in Abuja between Minister Alake and the leadership of Energy Capital & Power, organisers of African Mining Week. It also comes shortly after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Instrument of Ratification of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) Charter on 23 June 2026 and appointed Minister Alake as the inaugural Chairperson of the AMSG Ministerial Steering Committee.
These milestones reinforce Nigeria’s position as both a leading mining destination and a key driver of a new continental approach to mineral governance centred on regional cooperation, value addition, responsible investment, and greater African participation across strategic mineral value chains.
As Chairperson of the AMSG Ministerial Steering Committee, Minister Alake is expected to spearhead policy coordination among Africa’s mineral-producing nations. His participation at African Mining Week will provide an opportunity to advance partnerships, align policies, and attract investment that supports the continent’s mining ambitions.
African Mining Week 2026 is increasingly recognised as Africa’s premier platform for governments, investors, development finance institutions, and mining industry leaders to shape the continent’s mining agenda and unlock new investment opportunities.
Domestically, Nigeria continues to pursue an ambitious mining reform programme aimed at developing an estimated US$750 billion in untapped mineral resources and increasing mining’s contribution to the country’s GDP to 10 percent. With 44 commercially viable mineral deposits identified nationwide, the government is expanding exploration, improving geological data, promoting local mineral beneficiation, and strengthening the investment climate.
Nigeria is also deepening regional collaboration through mining partnerships with countries including South Africa and South Sudan. These efforts reflect a broader commitment to integrated African markets, cross-border infrastructure development, and coordinated industrial growth.
A key feature of African Mining Week 2026 will be the AMSG Ministerial & CEO Roundtable, which will bring together ministers, mining executives, sovereign wealth funds, development finance institutions, national mining companies, and strategic investors. Discussions will focus on policy coordination, infrastructure development, strategic financing, mineral value addition, and public-private partnerships.
The roundtable will also showcase flagship AMSG initiatives, including the proposed Africa Minerals and Metals Exchange (AMME), mineral tokenisation frameworks, geological mapping programmes, regional mineral market integration, and innovative financing mechanisms designed to improve transparency and strengthen Africa’s role in global critical mineral supply chains.
As global demand for critical minerals continues to rise, African Mining Week 2026 will provide a timely platform for governments and industry leaders to explore how Africa can move beyond exporting raw materials and become a global hub for mineral processing, manufacturing, and industrial development.
Nigeria’s participation reflects its commitment to this vision and reinforces the country’s leadership in building a more coordinated, investment-ready, and value-driven African mining sector. With the support of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group and its member states, the event is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of mining governance, regional cooperation, and sustainable industrial transformation across the continent.
