AFNIS 2026: Nigeria Seeks United African Strategy On Minerals, Energy Development

The federal government has called for stronger collaboration among African nations to transform the continent’s vast natural resources into drivers of industrialisation, job creation and long-term economic prosperity.

Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the 5th African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) 2026 in Abuja, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, said Africa must move beyond its traditional role as a supplier of raw materials and embrace value addition, industrialisation and regional integration.

Alake, who was represented by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Solid Minerals Development Company, Mr. Martins Imonite, said the summit would provide a strategic platform for African governments, investors and industry leaders to forge partnerships capable of unlocking the continent’s enormous resource potential.

According to the minister, AFNIS has evolved over the past five years into one of Africa’s leading platforms for dialogue, investment and policy engagement in the mining and energy sectors.

He noted that the 2026 edition comes at a critical period when global demand for critical minerals is rising sharply due to the energy transition and increasing competition for secure supply chains.

“The significance of AFNIS 2026 extends far beyond the celebration of its fifth edition. It comes at a crucial moment in Africa’s history where the demand for critical minerals is accelerating and nations are repositioning themselves to secure supply chains,” he said.

Alake stressed that Africa’s mineral wealth must serve as a catalyst for economic transformation, technological advancement and infrastructure development rather than continuing to fuel the export of unprocessed resources.

He explained that this year’s summit would place greater emphasis on implementation and deal-making, with dedicated investor engagement sessions, sovereign meeting rooms, ministerial dialogues, CEO roundtables, project financing discussions and project de-risking engagements.

“The objective is that participants should leave Abuja with new partnerships, new investment opportunities and practical pathways for execution,” he stated.
The minister disclosed that senior government officials and ministers responsible for mining, petroleum, energy and industrial development from countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Liberia and Mauritania are expected to attend the summit.

He added that development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds, commercial banks, mining and energy companies, technology providers, geoscience experts and policymakers from across Africa and beyond would also participate.

In a separate address delivered on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Faruk Yabo, by the Director of Investment Promotion and Mineral Trade, Mrs Esther Nkechi Udo, the ministry reaffirmed its commitment to building a globally competitive and investment-friendly mining sector.

Yabo said Africa was uniquely positioned to benefit from the growing global demand for critical minerals and urged African countries to seize the opportunity by promoting local value addition, technology integration and industrial development.

He described AFNIS as a premier platform for advancing Africa’s resource development agenda and ensuring that the continent’s natural wealth translates into tangible benefits for its people.

“For the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, AFNIS aligns perfectly with our vision of building a globally competitive, sustainable and investment-friendly mining sector. Our goal is not only to attract investment but also to ensure that the sector becomes a major driver of economic diversification, job creation and national development,” he said.

Also speaking, the director of Strategy and Platform Development at Core International, Mr. Archibald Troko, said AFNIS had attracted more than 5,000 delegates and ministerial participation from over 30 countries and institutions over the past four years.

He noted that this year’s summit would focus on continental resource sovereignty, regional integration and strategic mineral cooperation, with discussions aimed at fostering stronger cross-border value chains across Africa’s mining and energy sectors.

Troko said the summit would feature ministerial strategic addresses, investor engagements, project showcases and high-level ministerial and CEO roundtables designed to promote practical action rather than mere discussions.

He added that the gathering would seek to unite African nations around a common vision of leveraging natural resources to achieve sustainable development, industrial growth and shared prosperity across the continent.

Fielding questions from journalists, Solid Minerals Company MD/CEO, Mr Imonite said the the company had earned N1.3billion in its one year of existence, adding that the company was in contact with several leading global mining companies and that soon there will more investment and revenue inflow into Nigeria.