South Carolina Honours Alake Over Reforms In Solid Minerals

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has been honoured at the African Leadership Public Service Excellence Awards held at the Proshansky Auditorium, City University of New York, on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The recognition, organised by Africa Leadership Magazine, celebrates individuals making significant impact in governance, reform, and public service across the continent.

Dr Alake received the African Leadership Public Service Excellence Award for Solid Minerals Development and Sectoral Reform in recognition of his transformative efforts in repositioning Nigeria’s mining sector.

According to a statement by Alake’s media aide, Segun Tomori, on Wednesday, Honourable Dr Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, presented the award to Alake.

In a surprise announcement during the ceremony, the House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina also conferred a Certificate of Recognition on the minister, acknowledging his longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s development.

The certificate, signed by Speaker G. Murrell Smith Jr. and Clerk Charles Reid and dated September 24, 2025, recognised Dr. Alake as a seasoned journalist, media strategist, and public administrator. “We, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, commend you on all your contributions to Nigerian politics and wish you success in all your future endeavours,” the message read.

Delivering the citation in his honour, a former Republican State Senator from New York, Hon. Aaron T. Manaigo, traced Dr. Alake’s distinguished career over four decades.

Beginning as a journalist, columnist, and editor, Alake’s journey into public service began when he served as Adviser on Information to the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola during the 1993 presidential campaign. He was pivotal in Nigeria’s pro-democracy struggle and helped form the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO). His public service trajectory continued as Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to then-Governor Bola Tinubu in Lagos State, and today as Minister of Solid Minerals Development under President Tinubu’s administration.

In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Alake expressed deep appreciation to the organisers and the South Carolina House of Representatives for the honour. He assured that the recognition would further inspire his commitment to uphold the principles of accountability, transparency, and excellence in public service. Highlighting key reforms in the solid minerals sector, Alake noted the introduction of Mining Marshals and the deployment of satellite monitoring software to tackle illegal mining. He also pointed to the revocation of non-performing mining licences to eliminate speculators, and the digitisation of mining processes to increase transparency and investor access.

Alake reaffirmed the administration’s focus on value addition, stating that Nigeria is moving away from exporting raw minerals to encouraging in-country processing and manufacturing. This, he said, would not only create jobs but also promote skills transfer and economic empowerment. He recalled how his advocacy for this policy at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh in January 2024 led to the formation of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), where he currently serves as the inaugural chairman.

Calling on international investors, Dr. Alake emphasised that Africa’s solid minerals sector holds vast potential. He urged stakeholders to invest in the continent’s mineral wealth to boost economic growth and create sustainable livelihoods for African communities.

The event marked another milestone in Nigeria’s growing recognition on the global stage, particularly in driving reforms and innovation in critical economic sectors.