The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, has been elected as the Chairman, Africa Minerals Strategy Group.
He was elected at the 30th edition of the ‘Investing in Africa Mining Indaba’ in Cape Town, South Africa, with the theme “Embracing the power of positive disruption: A bold new future for African mining”
A statement in Abuja on Tuesday by the minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, stated that Alake was unanimously elected as the group’s pioneer chairman to advance the mining sector in Africa.
It quoted Alake as charging African leaders to forge a common vision aimed at ensuring the continent got the maximum benefits of its mineral resources.
The minister called for concerted efforts among Africa countries, in striving to end the era of carting away solid minerals in the region.
He urged the countries to be united in advocating and demanding value addition as a prerequisite for investment in their mining sector.
” Today, there is economic scramble for Africa. The critical metals needed for the energy transition are in Africa. Therefore, if we do not come together this time around and take our destinies in our hands, we will go through the same harrowing experiences of the past. That is why we form this body.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Nigeria and Uganda rallied the support of African Ministers of Solid Minerals and Mineral Resources on the need to unite and champion value addition in the mining sector to boost their economies.
This was in January, on the sidelines of the Future Minerals Forum (FMF) in Riyadh Saudi Arabia.
He was quoted saying” Let those who want our minerals know that if you go to country A, you have the same regulations and laws guiding the sector. You go to country B, you find the same.
”So, there is no divide and rule anymore. That is when we can show sincerity of purpose, and the world will begin to take Africa seriously. On behalf of our President , I pledge our full support to achieve our objectives, ” he said.
According to the statement, more than 15 countries have pledged to support the group in its discharge of duties.
NAN reports that the goal of the conference which started in 1994 was to provide a platftorm to bring together investors, financiers, operators, policy makers and other relevant stakeholders to enhance business relationships.
The conference holding from Feb.5 to 8 is aimed at bringing the mining community in Africa together, to drive sustainable investment in the sector.
(NAN)
