The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has urged stronger regional cooperation among African nations to position the continent as a major force in global mineral supply chains.

Mr Alake, who is also the chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), made the call while speaking at the 2026 Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition.

The two-day conference, with the theme, ‘Partnership for Prosperity: Advancing Value-Led Mining in Kenya’, ended on Wednesday.

Mr Alake’s call was contained in a statement on the event issued to newsmen on Wednesday by his special assistant on media, Lara Wise, in Abuja.

In the statement, the AMSG chairman described Africa as central to a new industrial era powered by critical minerals, clean energy technologies, digital transformation, and advanced manufacturing.

He, however, said that while Africa possesses vast deposits of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite, gold, copper, nickel, and rare earth elements, only a fraction of their economic value was being realised.

“For decades, Africa has remained largely an exporter of raw materials and an importer of finished products.

“This model has constrained industrial growth, weakened economic resilience, and limited job creation across our nations,” he said.

He emphasised the importance of regional cooperation, noting that no African country, acting alone, could fully maximise opportunities in the rapidly evolving global minerals market.

“The time has come for Africa to redefine its place within the global mineral economy, and that transformation must begin with regional cooperation,” he said.

The chairman urged African nations to harmonise mining policies, facilitate cross-border infrastructure, promote intra-African trade, and strengthen regional mineral value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

According to him, a fragmented Africa weakens its bargaining power, while a united Africa strengthens its strategic relevance.

He said the AMSG membership had rapidly expanded from 16 countries when it was established in 2023 to 31 countries, indicating Africa’s commitment to a unified voice.

According to him, AMSG serves as the first truly continent-wide platform enabling African countries to build a unified voice on mineral governance, value retention, and strategic positioning in global supply chains.

The group, he said, was advancing cooperation among member states to negotiate fairer terms with global partners, harmonise regulatory frameworks, and develop shared infrastructure such as mineral corridors and processing hubs.

“AMSG is also strengthening geological data systems to attract investment,” he said.

He emphasised the urgent need for value addition in Africa’s mining sector, stating that nations and regions that process, refine, manufacture, and innovate would have a bright future in the global minerals economy.

“Value addition is not merely an economic aspiration; it is a development imperative.

“It creates jobs for our youth, stimulates industrialisation, expands government revenues, and positions Africa competitively in the industries of the future,” he said.

He said that the ongoing restructuring of global supply chains presents Africa with a historic opportunity but warned that success would require stronger governance, policy consistency, transparency, environmental responsibility, and investment-friendly climates.

According to him, minerals go beyond mining and are fundamentally about Africa’s industrial future, economic sovereignty, and sustainable prosperity.

He said through visionary leadership, strategic partnerships, and continental cooperation, Africa could transition from being merely resource-rich to becoming truly value-rich. 

(NAN)