Abuja, Nigeria — The Federal Government has announced plans to unveil a landmark financing initiative, the “Africans for Africa Fund,” aimed at mobilising African capital to drive industrialisation and strategic investments across the continent’s mining and natural resource sectors.
The announcement was made Tuesday in Abuja by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, during a media briefing ahead of the upcoming 2025 African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS), scheduled to take place from July 15 to 17 at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja. The minister was represented by the Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Obadiah Nkom.
“This isn’t a slogan. It’s a shift in mindset. We are saying clearly: 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,” said Dr. Alake.
The Africans for Africa Fund, one of the flagship announcements expected at AFNIS 2025, is envisioned as a catalyst for value creation within the solid minerals value chain — from mining and processing to logistics, infrastructure, and technology adoption. It seeks to reduce reliance on foreign aid and encourage self-driven development using Africa’s wealth and talents.
The theme of this year’s summit, “Harnessing Local Content for Sustainable Development,” reflects a renewed commitment to shifting Africa’s role in the global resource economy — from being a raw material supplier to becoming a hub for value addition, manufacturing, and job creation.
“This summit is about building value where the resources come from,” Alake said. “We are done talking about potential. We are focused on production, transformation, and impact.”
According to the minister, the 2024 edition of the summit was a turning point, with the introduction of the “Africans for Africa” concept gaining significant traction among governments, development partners, and investors. That edition drew over 1,000 stakeholders and led to several investment pledges.
Alake, who also chairs the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, said AFNIS 2025 would feature high-level events such as:
• A Ministerial and CEO Retreat
• A Strategic Partnership Summit
• A Technical and Investment Forum focusing on ESG, critical minerals, and agriculture-mining integration
“We will explore how mining, agriculture, petrochemicals, and energy can be coordinated for long-term growth,” he added.
Confirmed speakers for the summit include Hon. Hassan Joho (Kenya), H.E. Julius Mattai (Sierra Leone), Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi, and ministers from Malawi, Liberia, Senegal, and South Sudan.
Dr. Alake said Nigeria would seize the opportunity to highlight progress made under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, including:
• Local mineral processing reforms
• Implementation of community development agreements
• Rollout of a national mineral data platform
• Measures to attract responsible and transparent investments
He called on ministries, agencies, private sector players, civil society organisations, and development partners to take AFNIS 2025 as an opportunity to launch bold, collaborative initiatives.
“This is our moment to send a message: that Africa is serious about owning and leading its resource future. That we’re no longer content to sit on wealth — we are ready to build with it,” Alake declared.
