Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has projected that a new partnership between Nigeria and South Africa will unlock Africa's vast mineral potential, create jobs, and drive industrialization across the continent.
Speaking in Abuja during the Nigeria-South Africa Technical Working Visit on Mining Sector Cooperation, Dr. Alake said the strategic collaboration would serve as a springboard for technology transfer, investment promotion, and value addition within Africa's mining ecosystem.
"Our partnership in the mining sector holds immense promise to unlock Africa's mineral wealth, drive industrialization, create jobs, and foster sustainable development," Alake stated.
The meeting was attended by key government officials from both nations, including South Africa's Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, Hon. Gwede Mantashe, Nigeria's Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, and top officials from the solid minerals and steel development ministries.
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Alake revealed that both countries are finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on:
- Technology and knowledge transfer
- Cross-border investment promotion
- Capacity building through training and research
- Regional alignment with the African Mining Vision
- Value addition in mineral production
He emphasized the importance of leveraging South Africa's global mining expertise to strengthen Nigeria's emerging value chains in key minerals such as lithium, gold, tin, baryte, and rare earth elements.
"Nigeria is undergoing a major transformation in its mining sector," Alake added. "We are committed to creating an enabling environment for responsible mining and attracting investment."
For small businesses and local investors, this development presents opportunities to plug into mining-related joint ventures, training programs, and equipment supply chains.
Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, described the engagement as "highly productive," affirming Nigeria's readiness to implement the outcomes of the meeting. "We are eager to deepen this partnership through technology transfer, capacity building, and joint ventures that will drive value addition across our mineral value chains," he said.
On his part, South Africa's Minister Gwede Mantashe affirmed that the cooperation aligns with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework, and said his visit was to fine-tune agreements initiated during the recent Bi-National Commission.
This partnership further positions Nigeria and South Africa as continental leaders in sustainable mineral development, supporting regional trade integration and long-term industrial growth across Africa.
