ABIDJAN-
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has called for a decisive shift in Africa’s mineral development strategy, urging the continent to move beyond the long-standing practice of exporting raw mineral resources while importing expensive finished products.
Speaking at the African Development Bank Ministerial Forum in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Alake stressed that Africa must take greater control of its vast mineral wealth by investing in local processing, value addition and industrialization. According to him, the time has come for African nations to transform their abundant natural resources into engines of economic growth, employment and sustainable development.
“For decades, Africa has exported raw minerals only to import finished products at a premium. This cycle must end,” Alake declared while addressing fellow ministers and development partners. He emphasized that processing more mineral resources within Africa would not only create millions of jobs but also strengthen local industries, boost manufacturing capacity and enable African countries to retain a greater share of the value generated from their natural resources.
The minister also advocated for Africa to take ownership of the systems used to evaluate and report its mineral resources. He highlighted the importance of the Pan African Resource Reporting Code (PARC), noting that the continent should establish and manage its own reporting standards to accurately determine the value of its mineral assets rather than relying solely on external frameworks.
Alake described the adoption of the Abidjan Declaration during the ministerial forum as a landmark achievement that demonstrates Africa’s collective commitment to deeper regional cooperation and accelerated industrial development. He explained that the declaration promotes improved financing mechanisms, practical investments and the establishment of cross-border mineral processing hubs that will enable African countries to process critical minerals locally, expand intra-African trade and strengthen regional value chains.
The Nigerian minister further stated that the declaration represents a shared vision for transforming Africa from a supplier of raw materials into a competitive global producer of value-added mineral products. He noted that such a transformation would significantly enhance economic resilience, increase export earnings and reduce dependence on imported manufactured goods.
As Chair of the Africa Mineral Strategy Group, Alake reaffirmed his commitment to working closely with governments, regional institutions, investors and development partners across the continent to ensure that Africa’s abundant mineral resources become catalysts for inclusive economic growth and long-term prosperity.
He concluded that by embracing local beneficiation, harmonized reporting standards, strategic investments and stronger regional collaboration, Africa can unlock the full potential of its mineral wealth, generate sustainable employment opportunities, stimulate industrialization and build stronger economies that benefit present and future generations.
