The Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) has extended the deadline for applications for its Early-Stage Mineral Exploration and Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE) programme to September 7, 2026.
The extension provides additional time for eligible applicants to submit proposals for the grant programme, which is designed to support early-stage mineral exploration, critical minerals development, research and development in Nigeria.
The EMERGE programme provides catalytic funding to explorers, mining companies, universities and researchers seeking to generate geological data, develop innovative mineral-processing technologies and advance promising mining projects.
According to the SMDF, the initiative is aimed at addressing the funding gap confronting projects at the early stages of development, while helping to unlock Nigeria’s mineral potential and promote local value addition.
The programme is also expected to create a pathway for viable mineral projects to progress from the early exploration and research stages to larger-scale private investment.
Interested applicants can access the EMERGE application portal at smdf-emerge.com.ng.
The announcement of the extended deadline was also published in leading national newspapers, including The Guardian, ThisDay, Punch, BusinessDay, The Nation, The Sun, Leadership and Daily Trust.
The SMDF urged prospective applicants to take advantage of the extension and submit their applications before the new September 7 deadline.
