Abuja: President Bola Tinubu delivered a heartfelt appeal to African nations, urging them to stop selling their future short by exporting raw minerals without adding value.
Speaking with the conviction of someone who understands the continent’s struggles and aspirations, Tinubu emphasised the need for unity to transform Africa’s natural wealth into real opportunities—jobs, technology, and prosperity—for ordinary people across the continent.
Welcoming the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) delegation at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu spoke passionately and directly. “The rest of the world will not mind if your country becomes a dumping ground while they cart away your raw materials,” he warned.
“It is our duty to change that story—to ensure our minerals bring real value, spark innovation, and create prosperity for our families and communities,” Tinubu added.
Tinubu, who serves as Grand Patron of the AMSG, said Africa’s mineral wealth must be harnessed to drive industrialisation and create opportunities for young people across the continent.
He stressed that research, refining, and innovation should be at the heart of Africa’s mineral strategy.
“I see no reason why we cannot centralise this conversation somewhere on the continent and use it to build a knowledge-based economy that improves lives and creates prosperity,” he added.
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, who chairs the AMSG, praised Tinubu’s leadership, noting that his policies have encouraged artisanal miners, strengthened local beneficiation, and inspired similar initiatives across Africa.
He revealed that some countries have already banned the export of raw minerals to protect local industries and increase earnings.
The delegation is in Abuja for the fifth African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS 2026), themed “One Africa, One Resource Vision.”
AFNIS 2026 aims to position Africa as a global player in the critical minerals value chain by promoting beneficiation, industrialisation, and strategic cooperation.
Alake reaffirmed the group’s commitment to Tinubu’s vision: “Our goal is simple — Africa’s resources must work for Africans. We want to keep the wealth here, create jobs here, and build industries here.”