By Shakirudeen Bankole
The annual Nigeria Mining Week (NMW) has retained its reputation as the event where sectoral leaders gather to have conversations that guide the growth and development of Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
Mr Dele Ayanleke, the National President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), stated this Tuesday in his welcome speech delivered at the opening of the NMW 2025.
Ayanleke said that through the instrumentality of the Mining Week, the sector had evolved, achieving remarkable progress such as increased exploration to the growth of artisanal and small-scale mining, and the emergence of larger mining operations.
He urged participants at the conference to explore opportunities for business, knowledge sharing, and international collaborations.
“The 10th anniversary of the Nigeria Mining week is not just a celebration but a launch pad for the next decade of growth, innovation and prosperity of Nigeria`s mining sector, he said.
Read the speech in full:
It is, once again, a great honour and privilege for me to welcome you all on behalf of Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), the Trademark Owner of the Nigeria Mining Week, as we gather here to celebrate the Landmark 10th Edition of this prestigious international annual event.
I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for how far we have come together to celebrate this Edition which is not just a continuation of tradition, but a celebration of a decade of impact, innovation, and collaboration in Nigeria’s mining sector.
It is, therefore, worth reflecting on what this platform has achieved over the past decade.
Nigeria Mining Week has remained a catalyst for sectoral dialogue, innovation, and reforms — bridging the gap between policy and practice, operators and investors, and ideas and implementation. Through this platform, we have seen the introduction of cutting-edge technologies, policy reforms, strategic partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives that continue to redefine the mining landscape in Nigeria.
Today, our sector stands more vibrant and structured, even as we have witnessed significant strides in exploration budgets, formalization of artisanal miners, growth in investment inflows, and the adoption of modern technologies to drive sustainability.
Minerals such as gold, limestone, barite, lithium and bitumen have gained renewed attention; and through enhanced collaborations, we are seeing tangible contributions to job creation, community development, and economic diversification.
However, as we celebrate these achievements, we also recognise that the work is not done. Regulatory challenges, insecurity, illegal mining, infrastructure gaps, access to finance, and capacity-building needs continue to present challenges. These are, however, not setbacks, but opportunities to innovate, to collaborate, and to chart a bold course for the next decade of Nigeria’s mining evolution.
This 10th Anniversary Edition of Nigeria Mining Week comes at a defining moment, especially with the global energy transition agenda, and our nation being richly endowed with the minerals critical to this agenda. As we set the stage for meaningful engagements and transformative decisions that will shape the sector’s future, it is instructive and imperative for us as a nation to emplace inclusive natural resource governance frameworks that are mutually beneficial to all.
At Miners Association of Nigeria, we remain unwavering in our commitment to promoting collaboration, transparency, and sustainability. Our partnership with the Ministry, development partners, investors, and industry stakeholders is stronger than ever. Together, we will continue to create an enabling environment where mining thrives, investments flourish, and communities prosper.
The sustainability of this platform would not have been possible, but for the support of our host, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, presently under the leadership of Dr Henry Oladele Alake, who together with his team, has been providing exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to repositioning the mining sector as a veritable pivot for non-oil socioeconomic development.
It is also imperative to salute the spirit of camaraderie that has sustained this platform in the last decade among the partners – PwC, for the enriching contents; the VUKA Group for the excellent delivery of each edition; and NEITI, for adding the transparency ingredients.
We also deeply appreciate our sponsors, supporting associations, other government agencies, the academia and professional groups, the media and all stakeholders who have stood firmly with us through the years. Your collective contributions have made this event a reference point for excellence and transformation in our national mining ecosystem.
May I, therefore, make a heartfelt call to action to all stakeholders:
>To the government and it agencies – to be inclusive in their policy reform initiatives and to continue to strengthen policy implementation;
>To the investors – to seize the opportunities offered by the Nigeria rich mineral endowments;
>To the operators – to embrace best practices, innovation and adherence to regulations;
>To our media partners and all stakeholders – to amplify our message of progress and inclusion.
As we gather to launch the next era of growth, sustainability, and prosperity for our nation’s mining sector, let us collaboratively reposition the Nigeria mining sector as a veritable pivot for the One Trillion Dollar Economy by the year 2030, as envisioned for the nation by His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President and Commander-In-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
We shall continue to covet the supports of all as we build the future together.
Thank you all and wishing all of us a fruitful and a most successful Conference and Expo.
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
