AFNIS Seeks to Harness Africa’s Mineral Resources for Sustainable Development Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has highlighted the forthcoming African Natural Resources & Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) 2024 as crucial for leveraging Africa’s mineral resources to drive sustainable economic development. The summit will be held from July 16 to 18, 2024, at the State House Conference Centre, Presidential Villa, Abuja.
In a press briefing, Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable
Minister of Solid Minerals Development, quoted Dr. Alake emphasising the summit’s
role as a critical platform uniting government official, private sector stakeholders, and
industry experts from across the continent. The aim is to build a consensus on
driving economic growth, achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and
fostering the development of cleaner energy.
“This year’s summit, themed ‘Natural Resources for Economic Development,’
underscores the significant role that Africa’s natural resources play in driving
economic prosperity,” Dr. Alake stated. “Our focus will be on empowering
marginalised communities and strategically utilising fossil fuel revenues to fund the
transition to a greener Africa.”
Organised in partnership with Core International Mining Company, the summit will
gather African Ministers of Solid Minerals/Mineral Resources. This will be the first
summit hosted by Nigeria since Dr. Alake became the pioneer chairman of the
African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG).
Dr. Alake highlighted that “AFNIS 2024 will set the pace for policy initiatives and
regulatory frameworks that will enhance the sustainable exploitation of mineral
resources and galvanise concerted action towards value addition—a major policy
adopted by the AMSG.”
He also called on the media to provide extensive coverage of the event to help
project Nigeria as a favourable investment destination and improve its global
perception. “Let’s utilise the AFNIS summit to bolster Nigeria’s image and project us
as Africa’s leading investment destination. The present administration is working
diligently to improve the ease of doing business and address inherent challenges,”
the Minister asserted.
Suleiman Zakari, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Core International, revealed that
this year’s summit would include bilateral meetings focusing on value addition to
ensure the continent maximises the benefits of its vast mineral resources.
The AFNIS 2024 summit is anticipated to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of
Africa’s natural resource management, fostering sustainable development, and
driving economic growth across the continent.
