Nigeria is to host the fourth African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) to boost the continent’s natural resources through smart and cross-sector collaboration for sustainable growth.

This is contained in a statement by Segun Tomori, special assistant on media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, on Monday in Abuja.

According to Mr Tomori, AFNIS, which will take place from July 14 to 17 in Abuja, is Africa’s leading platform for harnessing the continent’s abundant natural and energy resources to drive inclusive and sustainable economic development.

He said the fourth edition of the conference in Abuja would facilitate trade and knowledge sharing, support the development of enabling policies for the natural resources sector, and highlight investment opportunities across the continent.

“The fourth edition of AFNIS will bring together visionaries, policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders committed to unlocking the full potential of Africa’s natural wealth.

“This year’s summit theme brings together professionals in mining, energy, agriculture and finance alongside policymakers in these sectors across the continent,

“This is aimed at developing bold solutions that will chart a pathway for sustainable growth through local innovation and collaboration,“ he said.

He added that the 2025 summit would foster partnerships and attract investments to Nigeria, with the Minister of Solid Minerals Development expected to highlight reforms positioning the mining sector as a key driver of Nigeria’s industrial growth.

He said the four-day event is themed “Harnessing Local Content for Sustainable Development.”

“This provides an opportunity for Nigeria to concretise partnerships that landed in multi-billion-dollar investment deals on the sidelines of the G20 summit in New Delhi in 2023.

“Whilst also opening new vistas for expanded collaboration with Nigeria’s business community,“ he said.

According to him, a lithium processing plant will be unveiled at the summit, reflecting Mr Alake’s push for local value addition, with the project expected to generate jobs, support technology transfer, and drive industrial growth.

AFNIS 2025 will bring together senior dignitaries from over 25 nations, along with executives from leading organisations such as the African Development Bank, World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), among others.

The AFNIS third edition in 2024 in Abuja also brought together key stakeholders from the mining, agriculture, finance, power, and energy sectors—both renewable and non-renewable—to facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration.

Building on the success of its predecessors, AFNIS 2025 continues the discourse initiated in 2022, where sustainable development of African natural resources was highlighted, and 2023, which delved into the need for a just and equitable transition towards a greener Africa.

The 2024 agenda underscored the pivotal role of Africa’s abundant natural resources in fuelling economic prosperity and empowering marginalised communities. 

(NAN)