*The SGF, Senator George Akume (representing President Bola Tinubu) and other dignitaries at opening ceremony of NMW2025
Over 3000 participants expected at Abuja event holding in October
The year 2026 marks a defining moment for the Nigerian mining sector—a moment where refining capacity, industrialisation, and international collaboration converge to shape a new era of economic growth.
The Nigeria Mining Week conference and expo, which celebrated its record-breaking 10th edition last year, is organised by the Miners Association of Nigeria, in partnership with PwC, VUKA Group, and Mining Review Africa, with the Nigerian Ministry of Mines and Steel Development as official host. The event returns to Abuja from 13 to 14 October, with the pre-conference day on 12 October.
“This year’s programme is a confident continuation of the country’s bold commitment to accelerate mineral beneficiation, strengthen midstream capabilities, and position Nigeria as a reliable, timely, and globally connected supplier of strategic minerals,” says Samukelo Madlabane, Event Director Mining Portfolio, VUKA Group.
“Building on the momentum of the last decade, the 2026 edition brings government leaders, mining companies, investors, critical minerals experts, technology providers, and global partners together to unlock Nigerias rapidly expanding opportunities across lithium, gold, iron ore, gemstones, rare earths, quarrying, and industrial minerals. We look forward to welcoming back the mining community to Abuja as we showcase Nigerias potential, connect world-class investors with bankable projects, and support the nations ambition to become a regional refining and processing powerhouse.”
Pillars for Nigeria’s rise as mining hub
This year, Nigeria Mining Weeks conference programme is designed as a transformative platform to accelerate the countrys mining sector and strengthen its foundations through six interconnected content pillars.
Exploration & Geological Data: Strengthening the foundation of the industry with better geological data, modern mapping standards, transparent licensing, and exploration strategies that attract junior miners and global investors.
Financing & Investment: Tackling funding bottlenecks by clarifying investor requirements, supporting project preparation, and addressing risk, ESG, and title security to move projects from concept to development.
Industrialisation: The flagship focus of 2026, emphasising midstream capacity in processing, refining, and manufacturing. The goal is clear: no mineral leaves Nigeria unprocessed.
Infrastructure & Power Integration: Ensuring industrialisation succeeds through reliable power solutions, transport corridors, logistics digitalisation, and synchronised infrastructure timelines.
ESG, Transparency & Community Development: Building trust and global market access through traceability, responsible sourcing, ASM formalisation, gender inclusion, and community agreements.
International & Regional Collaboration: Leveraging lessons and expertise from across Africa and global mining nations to accelerate competitiveness through partnership rather than competition.
Together, these pillars create a roadmap: exploration builds the pipeline, financing enables development, industrialisation adds value, infrastructure powers growth, ESG ensures acceptance, and collaboration accelerates Nigerias rise as a mining hub.
Side events and forums
The new Critical Minerals Forum will focus on the minerals needed for the global energy transition, such as lithium, REEs, graphite, copper, and other battery or tech minerals, and how Nigeria must position itself to attract serious investment, build refining capacity, meet international quality standards, and secure offtake agreements. Lessons learnt from African peers, including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Zambia, and DRC, will give attendees practical takeaways.
The well-known side events and forums that make a welcome return to Nigeria Mining Week and always add to the vibrant atmosphere of dialogue, dedication, and deals are:
– The Gold Forum supports Nigeria’s progress in formalising gold operations, improving traceability, strengthening refining capacity, and integrating ASM into the legal market.
– The Steel & Industrial Minerals Forum brings together mining companies, processors, construction firms, policy makers, and quarry operators to discuss how Nigeria can build a stronger industrial minerals and steel ecosystem.
– The Women in Extractive Industries Forum supports industry transformation, improves talent pipelines, and ensures womens perspectives are included in mining, processing, and policy development.
– The CEO Roundtable is a closed-door, invitation-only session for leadership dialogue, bringing together the most senior executives across Nigerias mining ecosystem.
– The Deal Room Project Showcase & Private Capital Engagement curated, investment focused platform designed to connect mining projects with financiers, off-takers, advisors, and strategic partners.
Industry support
Nigeria Mining Week once again will showcase dozens of exciting mining and extractive projects in the country. The event is also expected to gather attendees from more than 20 countries, including 3,000+ mining professionals, around 150 sponsors and exhibitors, some 180 mining operators, and 150+ expert speakers and VIPs. Countries that are expected to have a strong presence with international pavilions are UK, EU, US, China, UAE, Canada, SA, and India.
Round-the-clock networking will be facilitated by specialist B2B matchmaking services and a hosted buyer programme.
Over the last 11 years, Nigeria Mining Week has become thé gathering place for many mining pioneers and suppliers, and many have become longstanding partners of the Abuja gathering.
Titan Minerals Ltd is returning as the diamond plus sponsor; KMDC, Kursi, Lovol, Sinogrand, and XCMG have already signed up as diamond sponsors; and SMT Nigeria is back as a platinum sponsor.
About VUKA Group
VUKA Group (formerly Clarion Events Africa) is a leading Cape Town-based and multi-award-winning organiser of exhibitions, conferences, and digital events across the continent in the infrastructure, sustainability, energy, mining, mobility, ecommerce and CX sectors. Other well-known events by VUKA Group include DRC Mining Week, DRC-Africa Battery Metals Forum, Angolan International Mining Conference, Enlit Africa, Africas Green Economy Summit, Carbon Markets Africa Summit, Smarter Mobility Africa, ECOM Africa and CEM Africa.
Nigeria Mining Week event dates and location:
12 October 2026: Pre-conference
1314 October 2026: Main conference and expo days
Location: Abuja Continental Hotel – Meetings & Conferences
Website: https://www.nigeriaminingweek.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Nigeriaminingweek/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nigeriaminingweek/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NigeriaMW
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nigeria-mining-week
