…Ministry of Solid Minerals Development affirms readiness to make the event a success
*Photo: Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake(middle) flanked by Hajia Zainab Shinkafi, DG of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (left) and Dr Janet Adeyemi, Women in Mining Nigeria (WIMIN), at a press conference in Abuja*
By Halima Imam
Nigeria is set to host one of Africa’s most strategic mineral development gatherings as Women in Mining Nigeria (WIMIN), in partnership with the African Mineral Development Centre (AMDC), an agency of the African Union(AU), announces the Gold & Gemstone Conference & Exhibition
GGCE 2025.
Speaking in Abuja at a press conference to announce the conference, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake expressed pride at how Nigeria women ‘always out their best foot forward.’
He recalled how he discovered at a recent Asian country that most of the gemstones on display at the Co feremce were said to have been sourced from Nigeria. He noted that he was wearing beads made in Nigeria.
Hajia Zainab Shinkafi, DG of the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) confirmed the ministry’s support for WIMIN, promising ‘ultimate support’ for the conference.
President of WIMIN, Dr Janet Adeyemi, states that women’s deep knowledge and organizational capacity in the downstream sector were a fundamental reason for the conference.
She said the inspiration for the conference originated when someone presented her with a sapphire and she was stunned by its price.
‘A meaningful conversation with the producer led to the start of the conference, which has grown from five participating African countries to an expansive event, ” he said.
Themed “Accelerating Collaboration for Sustainable Gold & Gemstone Development in Africa,” the event advances the objectives of Agenda 2063 and the Africa Mining Vision (AMV), reinforcing the commitment to ensuring Africa’s mineral wealth remains in the hands of Africans.
GGCE 2025 will take place at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The five-day event is scheduled for 24th-28th November 2025 and features masterclasses, high-
level conferences, exhibitions and a gala awards night.
It will convene policymakers, investors,
development partners, women, youth entrepreneurs and artisanal miners to shape the future of Africa’s gold and gemstone value chains.
Anchored on the AU’s Africa Mining Vision and coordinated alongside AMDC, GGCE 2025 positions Nigeria at the forefront of a continental movement to transition from raw mineral exports
toward value addition, ethical sourcing, and industrial competitiveness.
The conference will be formally declared open by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, whose leadership has strengthened Nigeria’s pursuit of responsible
mining and mineral beneficiation.
His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife, will serve as Father of the Day, delivering a royal goodwill message underscoring the
cultural, historical and economic significance of gemstones across African heritage.
Event Activities
GGCE 2025 has been carefully structured to ensure meaningful engagement and lasting impact:
1.Masterclasses |24th-26th November 2025
Hands-on training in gemstone cutting, jewelry design, lapidary arts and entrepreneurship led by leading African experts.
- Investment Briefing/Private Viewing – 26th November, 6:00-9:00 PM
- Conference & Exhibition – 27th-28th November 2025
High-level panel discussions,policy dialogue, technical sessions and trade exhibitions promoting collaboration, investment and knowledge exchange.
4.Gala &Awards Night – 28th November 2025
A distinguished celebration recognizing excellence,innovation,and leadership across Africa’s mining, jewelry and gemstone industries.
A Platform for Africa’s Transformation
Africa holds significant reserves of gold and gemstones but captures only a small fraction of their global value due to weak beneficiation capacity, fragmented governance and limited participation
in processing and jewelry manufacturing.
GGCE 2025 addresses these gaps by providing a continental platform for innovation, policy
alignment, investment and collaboration.
The conference aims to:
·Strengthen beneficiation policies under the AMV
·Expand local content and regional market opportunities
·Promote traceability and ethical sourcing systems
·Create pathways for youth and women’s empowerment
·Attract investment into processing hubs and jewelry clusters
Through exhibitions, technical sessions and policy dialogue, the event will convene leaders from government, industry, donor institutions, academia and ASM communities to co-develop
strategies that elevate Africa’s share in global gold and gemstone markets.
Nigeria’s Strategic Role
Nigeria’s emerging gemstone resources, dynamic youth demographic and increasing women participation place the country in a pivotal position as a regional anchor for beneficiation and
innovation.
GGCE 2025 supports this role by:
·Showcasing local capacity in gemstone cutting, jewelry manufacturing and ASM reforms
·Advancing continental partnerships for traceability systems
·Strengthening Nigeria’s ambition to become a processing and trading hub for Africa
The event aligns with the Federal Government’s agenda to diversify the economy, curb raw mineral exports and promote transparency consistent with global ESG standards.
Key Focus Areas
GGCE 2025 will highlight several priority themes essential to Africa’s mineral transformation:
·Policy &Governance: Aligning national frameworks with AMDC beneficiation models.
·Youth Innovation & Digitalization: Advancing tech-enabled traceability and jewelry design ecosystems.
·Women’s Empowerment: Expanding access to finance, markets and leadership roles.
·Sustainability &ESG: Embedding environmental responsibility and ethical sourcing in ASM communities
·Trade &Market Access: Enhancing Africa’s competitiveness in global ethical gold and gemstone markets
·Investment & Partnerships: Mobilizing capital for beneficiation clusters and women-led enterprises.
Highlighted Sub Theme: Transparency, Traceability &Trust
A major highlight for GGCE 2025 is the development of national and regional governance mechanisms for transparent gold and gemstone value chains, including:
·A roadmap for certification and traceability systems
·Multi-stakeholder governance frameworks with strong gender and youth inclusion
·Alignment with AU beneficiation standards and global ethical sourcing benchmarks.
This initiative aims to establish Nigeria as a model for responsible and trusted mineral trade in Africa.
Institutional Impact
Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development Strengthening Nigeria’s beneficiation roadmap, deepening AU collaboration and attracting investment into processing hubs.
Federal Ministry of Youth Development
Leading innovation labs, enterprise clinics and masterclasses to build youth skills and generate employment in gemstone and jewelry markets.
