By Martha Agas
African mining ministers and chief executive officers of mining companies have committed to expanding mineral testing infrastructure across the region.
They also proposed the establishment of joint industrial corridors and shared processing facilities within the region.
The group made this resolution in a communiqué issued at the end of the fourth edition of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) held on July 15 to 17, with the theme `Harnessing Local Content for Sustainable Development`.
The communiqué, made available to newsmen by Mrs Kania Andeyaba, Head of the Press and Public Relations Department at the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, on Tuesday in Abuja, indicated that the group supports adapting Nigeria’s local content model across Africa and backs the creation of a pan-African financing mechanism to support mineral beneficiation.
They also committed to operationalising the working groups of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) established by African mining ministers in 2024 with a clear roadmap.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the AMSG was established on the sidelines of the third Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh to promote international cooperation in sustainable critical minerals development by African governments.
The communique stated that participants of the summit resolved to prioritise local content and value addition with emphasis on the need to build robust local value chains, particularly processing minerals on African soil.
“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.
“This is to ensure that the continent’s immense wealth benefits its people, “ it stated.
Participants resolved to mobilise resources within Africa to invest in lucrative projects across the continent, fostering African ownership and parity with foreign exploration companies through the unveiling of the ‘Africans for Africa’ fund at the summit.
“A significant focus was placed on mobilizing domestic capital for African development. The “Africans for Africa” initiative was launched during AFNIS 2024, and in 2025, the fund was officially unveiled, “it stated.
It also resolved to further explore strategies for utilising local resources, including renewables, minerals, and human capital, to drive sustainable growth in the green economy.
This is in addition to discussions at the summit, which covered accelerating renewable energy adoption, closing the energy access gap, and fostering innovative partnerships and investments across the renewable energy value chain.
The summit also acknowledged the transformative power of technology and data in resource exploration and management.
NAN reports that discussions at the summit included transforming the region’s energy sector, the importance of regional energy integration projects, and the establishment of transparent electricity trading marketplaces.
The discussions also underscored the challenge of managing mining alongside agriculture, emphasising the importance of responsible exploration, effective reclamation plans, integrated policies, and community involvement to ensure sustainable land use and prevent conflicts.
The summit highlighted the significance of harnessing diplomacy for economic development and fostering strong international partnerships.
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