By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
AFNIS 2025 served as a vital platform for African nations and the private sector to reinforce their commitment to inclusive, sustainable, and value-driven development of their natural resources and energy sectors, ensuring that the continent’s immense wealth benefits its people.
This was the final submission in the communique issued end of this year’s (4th) African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) 2025, held from 15th to 17th of July in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
According to the communique, AFNIS 2025 with the theme “Harnessing Local Content for Sustainable Development”, successfully convened key stakeholders to address the critical need for Africa to leverage its vast natural resource wealth to drive industrial growth, equity, and sustainable development.
The opening day of the Summit set the tone for the engagements. In his welcome address, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, enjoined delegates to become co-architects of Africa’s future by forging investment partnerships that add value through job creation and environmental stewardship.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Solid Minerals Development (Chief Hosts), Dr Dele Alake, underscored Nigeria’s commitment to this policy shift. He spotlighted sweeping reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration which according to him have catalysed astounding growth in mining revenues, citing the generation of $800 million revenue from investments in critical minerals in 2024, positioning Nigeria as a hub for lithium processing and electric vehicle technologies.
Key highlights and commitments were made, including prioritising local content and value addition; the high-level tour of the ASBA and Wisdom International Lithium Processing Plant in Wasa District of Abuja which is at completion stage and expected to commence production in weeks; Africa’s growing energy sector and the critical role of energy access for socio-economic progress, among others.
Also stressed at the summit was the historical challenge of Africa being a supplier of raw materials. The Africa Mineral Strategy Group (AMSG) is actively working to regulate raw mineral exports and champion local processing. Reforms in the mining sector, including formalization, value addition, and attracting global players through entities like the Nigerian Solid Minerals Company, were deemed crucial. The potential for Africa to foster battery and electric vehicle industries, utilising its critical mineral resources, was a key point of discussion.
The “Africans for Africa” initiative was launched during AFNIS 2024 and in 2025 the fund was officially unveiled, aiming to pool resources from Africans to invest in lucrative projects within the continent, fostering African ownership and parity with foreign exploration companies.
Government reforms to improve the investment climate were also highlighted.
The summit recognised the transformative power of technology and data in resource exploration and management and the need to leverage them for growth. Presentations by GeoScan Technology and Oildynamix showcased AI-powered satellite image analytics and cutting-edge solutions to accelerate and enhance mineral exploration, reducing costs and increasing accuracy.
The importance of comprehensive data generation in understanding a country’s resource potential and attracting investment was emphasised by X-Calibur Smart Mapping.
Discussions included the delicate balance between mining and agriculture, stressing the need for proper exploration, reclamation plans, integrated policies, and community involvement to ensure sustainable land use and avoid conflicts.
The importance of radiological safety and compliance in the mining sector, protecting workers, the public, and the environment, as well as the need for an ethical supply chain framework for critical minerals and the development of African Mineral Standards (e.g., Pan-African Resources Reporting Code – PARC) to ensure transparent and competent reporting were also in focus.
The significance of harnessing diplomacy for economic development and fostering strong international partnerships was also highlighted, with countries like Liberia and Kenya expressing their commitment to local content, looking to Nigeria as a model.
The importance of intra-African trade, cooperation, and financial mechanisms (e.g., Solid Minerals Development Fund, African Finance Corporation) was underscored to ensure Africa defines its own agenda for critical mineral development.
Discussions also centred on accelerating renewable energy adoption, closing the energy access gap, and fostering innovative partnerships and investments in the renewable energy value chain.
AFNIS 2025 reached its defining moment during the CEO/Ministerial Roundtable, where African leaders and Industry Leaders engaged in candid dialogue on Africa’s mineral paradox: vast resources, yet limited value retention. Delegates reviewed Africa’s current position as a major holder of global mineral reserves and discussed strategies for moving from raw extraction to value-added production.
The Participants agreed on key steps which included establishing traceability systems, fostering joint industrial zones, developing cross-border infrastructure and formalising artisanal mining under regional frameworks. At the end of the session, some recommendations were put forward.