Dr. Dele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, advocates for moving beyond mineral extraction to enhance local value addition during the ninth Annual Nigerian Mining Week in Abuja. He highlights the government’s commitment to economic transformation through the establishment of processing plants and a focus on securing mineral resources. The theme of the mining week underscores the collective vision for a prosperous and sustainable mining industry in Nigeria.
Dr. Dele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, emphasized the necessity for Nigeria to advance beyond mineral extraction to fully realize the sector’s potential. Speaking at the ninth Annual Nigerian Mining Week in Abuja, he highlighted that despite Nigeria’s wealth in minerals, it is essential to focus on local value addition and processing to drive economic growth and job creation. Initiatives such as the establishment of lithium processing plants demonstrate the government’s commitment to retaining wealth within local communities and enhance Nigeria’s position on the global mineral value chain. Furthermore, President Bola Tinubu’s administration is prioritizing strategies to secure mineral resources and combat illegal mining, while the mining week serves as a global platform for innovation and collaboration among industry stakeholders. The theme, “From the Inside Out: Building the Mining Sector to be the Cornerstone of the Economy,” reflects a unified ambition for the mining industry to support national prosperity and sustainable development.
The Nigerian mining sector has vast potential, with an array of untapped minerals that could significantly contribute to the country’s economic development. Historically focused on raw mineral extraction, there is a growing recognition that transforming these minerals into value-added products will not only generate jobs but also stabilize the national economy. Strategies to enhance local processing and security within the mining sphere are critical to positioning Nigeria competitively on a global scale, particularly with the transition towards cleaner energy solutions.
In summary, Dr. Dele Alake’s statements reiterate the urgency for Nigeria to shift from mere extraction to value addition within its mining sector. By fostering local processing initiatives, securing resources, and combating illegal mining activities, the Nigerian government aims to transform the mining industry into a cornerstone of economic development. The ongoing mining week serves as an avenue to galvanize partnerships and drive innovations necessary to achieve these goals.
Original Source: nannews.ng
