The 2025 edition of the Africa Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit 2025 (AFNIS 2025) was kicked off by an opening speech by the Permanent Secretary of the Nigerian Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD), Engr Faruk Yusuf Yabo.
He said the Summit comes at a time the continent was shifting its focus from being known as resources rich to one of value addition.
Saying the resources must serve as a catalyst for African transformation, he said the theme is timely and compelling.” We must leverage African resources in a way to foster inclusiveness and our mneral wealth must be mined, processed and utilized in Africa for Africans”, he said.
The official however noted that Africa’s path to energy security and progress needs investment. He called on nations to foster favorable environment for investment.
“We must forge mutually beneficial partnerships to invest in skills and technology transfer,” he said. “Let us be intentional in ensuring that the benefits are harnessed and shared for the benefits of all.”
He was followed by a goodwill message from Dr Linda Lawson, Research Fellow from University of Queensland’s Global Centre for Mineral Security.
She noted that Minerals were not mentioned in the SDGS and expressed hope it will be included in the next.
Lawson, who is part of the WIMPRO, noted that the organisation is working with women to ensure safety and sustenance.
Samuel Odey, Dep Gov Benue State, Benue also shifting to minerals exploration pedged to abide by all rules in place to ensure sustainable minerals production.
CEO of Thor Exploration, Segun Lawson : He said the company is currently engaged in demonstrating that large scale gold production can be done locally in Nigeria.
“We need key quality data to do exploration and to deal with the community,” he said.
He expressed happiness with the work the ministry has done in making available the necessary data.
Which minerals are critical?
Hassan Ali Jobbo, Minister of Mining and blue economy in Kenya, said it looks like Africans have recognized the problem of procrastination and making too much noise about potentials without being decisive. He expressed happiness for having a platform where frank discussions are taking place.
He said the issue around critical minerals is itself problematic. He said Africans are yet to decide which minerals are critical to them, rather than respond to the classifications imposed by outsiders.
He said the focus is not about creating jobs in the industry, but about creating wealth for all from the mineral resources.
Dr Abdumalik Halilu, NCDMB:
He said the NCDMB has been supporting production of barite producers and ensure that only Nigerian producers should supply the material to the oil and gas industry.
