Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Honourable Minister of Solid Minarals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has expressed optimism that as the fifth edition of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) moves to implementation stage in Abuja from 23rd to 25th June 2026, policy and investment decisions in Africa will be shapened by the Summit for many years to come. This was contained in a statement signed by Kania Maliki. A, Head, Press, and Public Relations Department.
AFNIS, he said, has now evolved into one of Africa’s leading platforms for discussion, collaboration, and investment in natural resources and energy.
The Minister spoke in Abuja on Wednesday at the Pre-AFNIS 2026 press briefing.
Represented by Mr. Martins Imonite, M.D/CEO Nigeria Solid Minerals Company, the Minister said that the Summit will foster dialogue, build partnerships, and attract investment that can benefit Nigeria and the broader continent.
According to him, the theme: “One Africa, One Resource Vision” was adopted to reflect the growing recognition that the challenges and opportunities confronting Africa’s resource sector can no longer be addressed through isolated national approaches.
Success in Africa, he said, will depend on increased collaboration among African countries across several domains—critical minerals, energy infrastructure, regional value chains, industrial corridors, responsible sourcing, project financing, and technology transfer.
Dr. Alake pointed out that the AFNIS 2026 conference is coming at a period of rapidly increasing demand for critical minerals, prompting nations to strengthen their supply chains and global capital to seek secure investment opportunities.
He emphasized the urgent need for Africa’s potential to transition from simply exporting raw materials to becoming a hub for value creation, industrialization, and shared prosperity.
To this end, the Minister said AFNIS 2026 aims to foster the development of Africa’s resources as key drivers for economic transformation, job creation, technological innovation, infrastructure enhancement, and sustainable wealth generation for the continent’s population.
He said, “What makes AFNIS 2026 different from previous editions is its deliberate focus on implementation. This year, the programme has been designed to facilitate direct engagement between governments, investors, financiers, project developers, and technical experts.
“Dedicated sovereign meeting rooms, investor engagement sessions, ministerial dialogues, CEO roundtables, project financing discussions, responsible sourcing roundtables, and project de-risking engagements have all been incorporated into the Summit architecture.
“The objective is such that participants should leave Abuja with new partnerships, new investment opportunities, and practical pathways for execution.
“One of the clearest indicators of AFNIS’ growing relevance is the level of participation it continues to attract from across the continent.”
Those expected to attend this year’s summit, the Minister said include senior government representatives and ministers responsible for mining, petroleum, energy and industrial development from several African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Somalia, Liberia and Mauritania, among others.
“These countries represent some of Africa’s most important mining and energy jurisdictions, and their participation demonstrates a growing consensus that Africa’s resource future must be shaped through dialogue, coordination, and collective action.”
Apart from government participation, he disclosed that AFNIS 2026 will bring together development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds, commercial banks, investment funds, mining companies, energy companies, technology providers, geoscience experts, project developers and policy makers from across Africa and beyond.
“It is this unique convergence of decision-makers, investors, and industry leaders that distinguishes AFNIS from many other conferences on the continent.
“Nigeria is honoured to host this important gathering again.
We expect this year’s Summit to generate meaningful discussions around sovereign participation in strategic projects, regional industrial corridors, critical mineral development, infrastructure financing, responsible sourcing, energy integration, project de-risking and innovative financing mechanisms that can unlock Africa’s enormous resource potential.
“The outcomes of these discussions have the potential to shape policy and investment decisions across the continent for years to come.” the Minister stated
In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, Engr Faruk Yabo, highlighted AFNIS’s evolution from a routine conference into the definitive gathering for Africa’s resource sector, where governments, investors, and technical experts come together to negotiate deals, share innovations, and work to unlock the continent’s resource potential.
AFNIS, according to him, is central to the Ministry’s mission to build a mining sector that is competitive and profitable while being responsible and forward‑looking.
The Permanent Secretary, who was represented by the Director IPMT, Mrs Esther Nkechi Udo, said its key objectives include promoting local value addition, integrating technology, ensuring sustainability, and translating Africa’s critical minerals into inclusive wealth for African people.
He expressed appreciation to the media, describing it as critical partners who connect government policies with the public, promote transparency, and foster constructive dialogue that supports responsible industry growth.
While appreciating co‑organizers, partners, and stakeholders, Engr Faruk Yabo emphasised that staging a summit of this magnitude requires collective effort and that their dedication is essential to AFNIS’s continued success.
Representative of Core International, Archibald Troko, Director, Strategy and Platform Development, thanked Nigeria’s Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and other stakeholders for driving sustainable growth, reform and development of Nigeria’s mining sector and supporting other African states through the African Mining Strategy Group (AMSG).
He disclosed that the past four AFNIS summits secured more than $600 million in deals.
The summits, according to him, have produced tighter, more aligned trade agreements, policy unification, and new standards for natural resource development.
Recalling that AFNIS and AMSG launched the Africans for Africa Fund at AFNIS 2024 to mobilize domestic capital for African development, which targeted $1 billion, with projected 8.1x return and a 15% net internal rate of return.
Further investment details, he said, will be available at AFNIS 2026.
Stressing that the four summits of AFNIS hosted more than 5,000 delegates and ministerial representation from over 30 states across Africa and the EU, he said Development finance institution (DFI) and institutional support have come from senior figures at AfDB, AFC, IFC, the European Union, GIZ, USAID, the United Nations, UNDP, the Africa Mineral Strategy Group and other intergovernmental organizations and multinational companies.
For the AFNIS 2026, he said that 20% of Africa’s mining and natural resources ministers/delegations have already confirmed attendance.
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