The minister of solid minerals development, Dr. Dele Alake, has said the forthcoming African Natural Resources & Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) 2024 will bring policymakers and private sector investor together towards harnessing the mineral wealth of Africa towards the development of the continent,
Dr Alake told journalists yesterday in Abuja that the 3rd edition of the Summit, slated for Abuja from 16th to 18th July, 2024, is pivotal for harnessing Africa’s mineral resources to achieve sustainable economic development.
He noted that since Nigeria spearheaded the formation Africa Minerals Strategy Group, which he (Alake) was elected Chairman, this summit was the first and will be important in shaping the future of sustainable exploration and value addition to Africa’s minerals so that the sector can contribute more significantly to the economic growth and development of the continent.
According to him, the three-day summit will seek to unite and galvanise government officials, private sector stakeholders, and industry experts from across the continent to build a consensus towards driving economic growth, achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and fostering the development of cleaner energy.
He said, ‘This year’s summit, under the theme, “Natural Resources for Economic Development,’ underscores the significant role that Africa’s natural resources play in driving economic prosperity. Our focus will be on empowering marginalised communities and strategically utilising fossil fuel revenues to fund the transition to a greener future.
“AFNIS 2024 will set the pace for policy initiatives and regulatory frameworks that will enhance the sustainable exploitation of mineral resources and galvanise concerted action towards value addition—a major policy adopted by the AMSG.”
Dr. Alake urged the media to provide extensive coverage of the event, and to continue to project the country in positive light in order to encourage investors to come to Nigeria, explaining that other countries have their negative sides but they do not celebrate them the way Nigerian media showcase the country’s pitfalls.
“Let’s utilise the AFNIS summit to bolster Nigeria’s image and project us as Africa’s leading investment destination. The present administration is working diligently to improve the ease of doing business and address inherent challenges,” he said.
The permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr Mary Ogbe, on her part said the AFNIS 2024 summit, which will be held at State House Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, will provide a platform to discuss innovative avenues, development, energy transition for the African continent.
“It is hoped that the summit will provide the avenue for increased employment, property and stability across the mining and energy value chain,” she said.
On his part, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Core International, Suleiman Zakari, said this year’s summit would include bilateral meetings focusing on value addition to ensure the continent gets maximum value from its vast mineral resources.
