ABUJA — The Federal Government is set to unveil a bold new financing initiative, the Africans for Africa Fund, aimed at mobilising capital within the continent to develop Africa’s mining and natural resource sectors.
The announcement was made on Tuesday in Abuja by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, during a press briefing ahead of the 2025 African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS), scheduled to hold from July 15 to 17 at the State House Conference Centre.
Represented by the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Obadiah Nkom, the minister said the Fund seeks to harness African resources for African priorities, with a focus on industrialisation, value addition, and sustainable investments.
“One of the major highlights this year will be the formal launch of the Africans for Africa Fund,” Alake said. “This isn’t a slogan. It’s a shift in mindset. The time has come for Africans to invest in Africa, to back our industries, our innovations, and our infrastructure with the resources we already have.”
The theme for the 2025 summit — Harnessing Local Content for Sustainable Development — signals a pivot away from raw material exports towards domestic production, job creation, and resource beneficiation.
“This year’s theme encourages a serious rethink about how Africa can build value where the resources come from. We are done talking about potential. It’s now about production and adding value,” Alake said.
The minister, who also chairs the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, outlined a robust programme for AFNIS 2025, including:
A Ministerial and CEO Retreat
A Strategic Partnership Summit
A Technical and Investment Forum focusing on ESG standards, critical minerals, and agriculture-mining integration
Speakers confirmed for the summit include Hon. Hassan Joho of Kenya, H.E. Julius Mattai of Sierra Leone, Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi, and ministers from Malawi, Liberia, Senegal, and South Sudan.
Alake noted that Nigeria will use the summit to showcase key milestones under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, such as:
Reforms in the solid minerals sector
Local mineral processing initiatives
Launch of a national mineral data platform
Strengthened community development agreements
He urged ministries, private investors, and development partners to leverage AFNIS 2025 as a springboard for innovation and collaboration.
“This is our moment to send a message: Africa is serious about owning and leading its resource future. We’re no longer content to sit on wealth — we are ready to build with it,” he declared.
