The African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) 2025, held from 15th to 17th of July 2025, with the overarching theme “Harnessing Local Content for Sustainable Development,” successfully convened key stakeholders to address the critical need for Africa to leverage its vast natural resource wealth to drive industrial growth, equity, and sustainable development.
The opening day of the Summit, themed “Harnessing Local Content for Sustainable Development”, set the tone for the engagements. In his welcome address, Engr. Faruk Yusuf Yabo, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, enjoined delegates to become co-architects of Africa’s future by forging investment partnerships that add value through job creation and environmental stewardship.
Minister of Solid Minerals Development (Chief Hosts), Dr. Dele Alake, delivered a compelling opening keynote address that underscored Nigeria’s commitment to this policy shift. He spotlighted sweeping reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which have catalyzed astounding growth in mining revenues through the attraction of over $800 million in critical minerals investments, positioning Nigeria as a hub for lithium processing and electric vehicle technologies.
Key Highlights and Commitments:
Prioritizing Local Content and Value Addition: A central tenet of the summit was the imperative to move beyond the export of raw materials. Emphasis was placed on building robust local value chains, processing minerals on African soil, and promoting “Nigeria First” policies (as exemplified by the Nigerian Content Monitoring and Development Board when it comes to the supply of Baryte) to prioritize local human and material resources in natural resource operations. New mining licenses, for instance, should mandate local processing plans.
Another remarkable highlight which also underscores the summit theme was the high-level tour of the Asba and Wisdom International Lithium Processing Plant.
Transforming the Energy Sector: Discussions underscored Africa’s growing energy sector and the critical role of energy access for socio-economic progress. Initiatives like Nigeria’s presidential compressed natural gas (CNG) program were highlighted as successful models. The importance of regional energy integration projects and the establishment of transparent electricity trading marketplaces (e.g., Nigerian Energy Exchange championed by Nbet) were also stressed. Efforts to mobilize resources and investments for the energy sector are ongoing.
Strategic Development of Mineral Resources: The summit addressed the historical challenge of Africa being a supplier of raw materials. The Africa Mineral Strategy Group (AMSG) is actively working to regulate raw mineral exports and champion local processing. Reforms in the mining sector, including formalization, value addition, and attracting global players through entities like the Nigerian Solid Minerals Company, are crucial. The potential for Africa to foster battery and electric vehicle industries, utilizing its critical mineral resources, was a key point of discussion.
Nigeria Officially Joins Africa Minerals Strategy Group: A significant development during the summit was the official signing of the Charter by Nigeria, formally joining the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) as a full member. This step solidifies Nigeria’s commitment to a unified African approach to mineral development, focusing on value addition, exploration, African capital mobilization, and critical mineral security across the continent.
Mobilizing African Capital and Investment, the Africans for Africa Fund: 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, aiming to pool resources from Africans to invest in lucrative projects within the continent, fostering African ownership and parity with foreign exploration companies. Government reforms to improve the investment climate were also highlighted.
Leveraging Technology and Data for Sustainable Practices: The summit recognized the transformative power of technology and data in resource exploration and management. Presentations by GeoScan Technology and Oildynamix showcased AI-powered satellite image analytics and cutting-edge solutions to accelerate and enhance mineral exploration, reducing costs and increasing accuracy. The importance of comprehensive data generation in understanding a country’s resource potential and attracting investment was emphasized by X-Calibur Smart Mapping.
Balancing Natural Resources with Other Sectors: Discussions included the delicate balance between mining and agriculture, stressing the need for proper exploration, reclamation plans, integrated policies, and community involvement to ensure sustainable land use and avoid conflicts.
Promoting Ethical and Sustainable Practices: The importance of radiological safety and compliance in the mining sector, protecting workers, the public, and the environment, was addressed. The need for an ethical supply chain framework for critical minerals and the development of African Mineral Standards (e.g., Pan-African Resources Reporting Code – PARC) to ensure transparent and competent reporting were also key themes.
Fostering International Partnerships and Intra-African Cooperation: The summit highlighted the significance of harnessing diplomacy for economic development and fostering strong international partnerships. Countries like Liberia and Kenya expressed their commitment to local content, looking to Nigeria as a model. The importance of intra-African trade, cooperation, and financial mechanisms (e.g., Solid Minerals Development Fund, African Finance Corporation) was underscored to ensure Africa defines its own agenda for critical mineral development.
Empowering Africa’s Green Economy: The summit explored strategies for harnessing local resources, including renewables, minerals, and human capital, to drive sustainable growth in the green economy. Discussions included accelerating renewable energy adoption, closing the energy access gap, and fostering innovative partnerships and investments in the renewable energy value chain.
CEO/Ministerial Roundtable:
AFNIS 2025 reached its defining moment during the CEO/Ministerial Roundtable, where African leaders and Industry Leaders engaged in candid dialogue on Africa’s mineral paradox: vast resources, yet limited value retention. Delegates reviewed Africa’s current position as a major holder of global mineral reserves and discussed strategies for moving from raw extraction to value-added production. The Participants agreed on key steps which included establishing traceability systems, fostering joint industrial zones, developing cross-border infrastructure and formalizing artisanal mining under regional frameworks. Notably, Key outcomes of the CEO/Ministerial roundtable included:
Expansion of mineral testing infrastructure across member states;
Proposal for joint industrial corridors and shared processing facilities;
Commitment to operationalize AMSG working groups with a clear roadmap;
Support for adapting Nigeria’s local content model across Africa;
Backing for a pan-African financing mechanism to support mineral beneficiation.
Conclusion: 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, ensuring that the continent’s immense wealth benefits its people. Special thanks to our partners and sponsors: Asba & Wisdom International, GeoScan Technology/Esoterra, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Segilola Operating Resources Limited, NIWNRO, Xcalibur Smart Mapping, Oildynamix, Kaduna Mining Development Co. Ltd, Kaduna Electric, Kogi State Government, Plateau State Government, ANRML, Benue State Government, Nbet, Kian Smith and Nasarawa State Government.
