The upcoming Africa Natural Resource and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS-2023),
scheduled to hold between 31st October and 2nd November, 2023, will afford Nigerian and other African countries a platform to discuss the sustainable development of Africa’s natural resources.
LEADERSHIP learnt that three-day summit would be attended by government officials from African countries, industry experts, academics and business leaders, with an agenda to deliberate on the intricacies of achieving a just transition within the mining and energy domains, amongst others,
Speaking on the summit during a briefing of the Diplomatic Community at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters in Abuja yesterday, the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe, said the federal government was committed to collaborating with other African countries towards the development of the continent’s natural resource endowments.
According to a statement signed by the head, Press & Public Relations, of the ministry, Alaba R. Balogun, the permanent secretary explained during the interactive/briefing session with the Diplomatic Corps that through the AFNIS Summit, an African knowledge sharing platform initiated by the federal government, Nigeria will work with fellow African nations to continue the sustainable development of Africa’s natural resources through knowledge sharing, investment and trade.
Dr Ogbe said: ”This forum was initiated to strategise on how Africa can continue to receive investment from its vast mineral resource deposits while also protecting its environment. The Summit thus provides a global platform for Africa to encourage investment in its power, energy (oil and gas) and mining sectors.”
With preparations for the upcoming 2023 Edition of the African Natural Resource and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) in top gear, Dr Ogbe urged African countries and their allies to participate in building on the successes recorded during the maiden edition of AFNIS held last year.
On his part, the permanent secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa, encouraged Africa to give adequate attention towards developing its huge natural and energy resources for the benefit of the African continent, adding that “a better Africa can be achieved” with AFNIS.
Managing director, Core-I-Mine and co-founder, AFNIS, Dr. Abubakar Lawal, said the theme of the summit, ”Towards a Just Transition,” was apt as it would explore strategies to address challenges linked to the shift from fossil fuels, with a focus on minimising adverse impacts on economies rooted in these sectors.
”AFNIS 2023 central objective is to strike a delicate balance that supports Africa’s mining and energy sector growth, harnessing fossil fuels for industrialisation, while concurrently aligning with global climate change mitigation efforts,” he said.
