The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has called on Nigerian youths to harness the nation’s abundant mineral resources instead of seeking employment opportunities abroad.
Speaking at the African Mining Week in Cape Town, South Africa, themed “Vision and Strategy – Setting the Stage for Minerals Industrialisation,” Alake, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Farouk Yabo, said Africa must reposition itself as a global hub for mineral processing and green industrialisation.
“Our youths should no longer seek jobs abroad while opportunities lie buried beneath their feet. The time to industrialise is now,” he said, urging a shift from dependence on raw mineral exports to value-added industrialisation that creates jobs and drives inclusive growth.
The minister emphasised that Africa’s mineral wealth has long powered global industries while the continent remains under-industrialised. To reverse this trend, he said Nigeria is incentivising local beneficiation — from gold refining to lithium processing — and revoking dormant mining licences to attract credible investors.
Alake noted that the government is strengthening governance and transparency frameworks to encourage global partnerships, while also implementing a National Critical Minerals Strategy to guide sustainable exploitation.
As Chairman of the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), Alake briefed the ministerial roundtable on Nigeria’s broader economic vision to achieve a one trillion-dollar economy by 2030 through strategic mining reforms and industrial diversification.
He urged African nations to prioritise mineral mapping, digitise mining operations for transparency, and enforce regulatory compliance to ensure only licensed operators are engaged.
“Nigeria is investing in digital systems to improve data accessibility and mineral traceability,” Alake added. “Our focus is on building strong institutions and sound policies that will sustain mining reforms and drive economic transformation.”
