Yesterday in New York, I had the honour of joining Vice President Kashim Shettima, who led Nigeria’s delegation to the Second AMSG High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals on the margins of the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
At this important gathering of African leaders, sovereign wealth funds, and global investors, the Vice President reaffirmed Nigeria’s strong position: Africa’s critical minerals must fuel industrialization, job creation, and shared prosperity on the continent, not just be exported as raw commodities. He called for blended finance, de-risking tools, and a unified African voice to ensure that our mineral wealth is transformed into lasting development.
In my goodwill message, I stressed how this vision aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. At the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, we are translating this mandate into bold action:
Mapping Our Mineral Wealth: We have launched a nationwide programme to identify and map mineral resources across all 774 local governments, creating a comprehensive database to guide transparent decisions and attract investment. 30% Value Addition Bill: Through the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, we have sponsored pioneering legislation mandating that no critical mineral leaves Nigeria without at least 30% local value addition. This will end the cycle of raw export and position Nigeria as a hub for processing, beneficiation, and manufacturing. Harnessing Space Technology: We have secured Federal Executive Council approval for the acquisition of four high-resolution satellites. For the first time, Nigeria will be able to accurately identify and quantify our mineral reserves, ensuring precision in exploration, planning, and sustainable exploitation.These initiatives are concrete expressions of the Renewed Hope Agenda—driving diversification, creating jobs, promoting industrial value addition, and ensuring inclusive development.
Nigeria stands ready to work with our African brothers and global partners to make our mineral wealth a cornerstone of prosperity, innovation, and global competitiveness.
Together, we can ensure Africa is not a supplier of raw materials, but a strategic player in the global clean energy and digital economy.
