Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, yesterday, said the 2025 African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) would be a game-changer in unlocking Nigeria’s and Africa’s vast solid minerals investment potential.

He noted that AFNIS, which began in 2022 as the Nigeria-Africa Natural Resource and Energy Investment Summit (NAFNIS), had evolved into a powerful continental platform that had steadily expanded in scope, ambition, and impact.

Alake disclosed this in Abuja, during the pre-summit press briefing, ahead of the Summit scheduled to hold from July 15 to 17, 2025, at the State House Conference Centre, with the theme “Harnessing Local Content for Sustainable Development.”

The minister was represented by the Director General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastre Office (MCO), Simon Obadiah Nkom.

According to him, the summit’s theme challenges Africa to rethink its economic model, moving away from raw material exports to domestic value creation through industrialisation, local refining, and job creation.

He said: “Since its inception in 2022 as the Nigeria-Africa Natural Resource and Energy Investment Summit (NAFNIS), AFNIS has recorded significant growth in both ambition and impact. The maiden edition laid the foundation with strong emphasis on climate-friendly industrialisation, responsible mining, and
sustainable financing.”