Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development and Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, Dr. Dele Alake, says African countries are taking firm steps to deepen value addition, expand regional cooperation, and drive sustainable growth in the gold and gemstone sector.
He made this known yesterday in Abuja during a pre-event briefing ahead of the 4th African Gems and Jewellery Exhibition & Conference and the Gold & Gemstone Conference and Exhibition (AGJEC/GGCE 2025), scheduled to hold in Lagos. The event is themed “Accelerating Collaboration for Sustainable Gold and Gem Development in Africa.”
Represented by the Executive Secretary of the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Fatima Shinkafi, Alake said the conference reflects a shared commitment to transform the continent’s mineral sector. He noted that although Africa holds about one-third of global mineral resources, it still earns only a fraction of the global mineral value — a gap he described as a major opportunity for growth and collective prosperity.
Alake outlined ongoing reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including improved transparency, faster geological data acquisition, strengthened local refining and manufacturing capacity, and the formalisation of artisanal miners. These reforms, he added, are designed to protect mining communities, boost revenue, and position solid minerals as a key driver of Nigeria’s industrialisation.
He emphasised that gold and gemstones possess massive potential to create jobs and economically empower women and youth, noting that processed gemstones and finished jewellery have far higher market value than raw minerals.
Reiterating Nigeria’s commitment to responsible sourcing, certification, and a shift from exporting raw materials to producing high-quality finished products, Alake commended the Women in Mining Nigeria group for championing inclusivity in the sector. He assured them of continued government support for training initiatives, community development, and safer mining practices.
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