President Bola Tinubu has called on African countries to work together in protecting and maximizing the value of the continent’s vast mineral resources. He urged member nations of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) to speak with one voice and ensure Africa benefits more from its natural wealth instead of simply exporting raw materials to other parts of the world.
The President made the appeal on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from AMSG at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The group consists of ministers responsible for mining and solid minerals across Africa. President Tinubu serves as the Grand Patron of the organization, while Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, currently chairs the group.
According to a statement released by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu emphasized the need for African nations to strengthen their position in the global mineral market. He noted that the continent must stop allowing foreign interests to exploit its resources without creating meaningful value for African economies.
The President said Africa should focus on cooperation, research, technological development, and local mineral processing to ensure that the benefits of mining remain within the continent. He stressed that African countries have a responsibility to work together to transform mineral wealth into economic growth, industrial development, and improved living standards for their citizens.
Tinubu also highlighted the importance of investing in research and refining facilities across Africa. He suggested that African countries should coordinate efforts and create stronger partnerships that support innovation and knowledge-based industries.
According to him, the continent possesses enormous mineral deposits that can help drive industrialisation, create employment opportunities, and accelerate economic growth if managed properly. He argued that the long-standing practice of exporting raw minerals without processing them locally should become a thing of the past.
Instead, the President encouraged African governments to promote value addition, attract investment into local industries, encourage technology transfer, and develop supply chains that keep more wealth within African borders.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Minister of Solid Minerals Development and AMSG Chairman, Dele Alake, thanked President Tinubu for his support and leadership in advancing Nigeria’s mining sector.
Alake said the President’s policies under the Renewed Hope Agenda have encouraged local value addition, economic diversification, and the empowerment of artisanal miners. He noted that several African countries are now adopting similar strategies in their own mining sectors.
He further explained that Tinubu had earlier challenged the group to make local beneficiation and value addition the central objective of its activities. According to him, AMSG has successfully embraced that vision, and the message is now gaining momentum across the continent.
Alake revealed that some member countries have already taken steps to stop the export of raw minerals in order to encourage local processing and increase economic benefits.
He also informed the President that AMSG members were in Abuja for the fifth edition of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS 2026).
The summit, themed “One Africa, One Resource Vision,” aims to strengthen cooperation among African nations and position the continent as a major force in the global critical minerals industry. Leaders attending the event are expected to discuss new strategies for resource management, industrial development, and sustainable economic growth.
AMSG reaffirmed its commitment to protecting Africa’s interests and ensuring that the continent earns greater value and revenue from its mineral resources for the benefit of future generations.
