President of the Miners Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dele Ayanleke, has revealed that Nigeria’s flagship mining conference—Nigeria Mining Week—has grown into a major international platform that connects local operators with global investors.
Speaking in an exclusive chat with Nigerian Mining, Ayanleke described the annual event as a strategic driver of foreign direct investment into the country’s solid minerals sector.
“Maybe I should let you know that we are the trademark owner of the annual Nigeria Mining Week,” he began. “It’s an annual event that brings a lot of investors to the country across the value chain—miners, equipment manufacturers, marketers, professionals—from all over the world.”
“We started this since 2016. By the grace of God, this October we’ll be hosting the 10th edition at the Abuja Continental Hotel Abuja. It is a big forum where all investors come together from across the globe.”
He added that beyond exhibitions and networking, the event fosters deep policy engagement:
“This goes a long way in connecting local investors to foreign investors, equipment suppliers and manufacturers, even professionals and some government officials from other nations—to share and compare notes and ideas.”
Ayanleke also highlighted the association’s collaborative relationship with government in shaping mining policy:
“We contribute to policy formulation from our experience as operators in the field. We’ve been telling the government that it’s better to empower local investors—who are mostly our members—to attract big investments.”
“Many of our members have already partnered with foreign investors to ensure that mining is done according to global best practices, generating revenue and bringing economic development to the country,” he added.
With the government’s increasing formalisation of artisanal miners into cooperatives, Ayanleke believes the sector is gradually becoming more structured.
He remains optimistic about the future of Nigerian mining, stating:
“If you see the rate of improvement in terms of economic contribution of the sector, you’ll know that we are getting there gradually. We are getting there gradually.”
