By Leeman Ali-haidar
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake stated that Nigeria’s partnership with South Africa in the solid minerals sector has the potentiality of unlocking Africa’s mineral wealth.
Alake made the statement during Nigeria-South Africa Technical Working Visit on Mining Sector Cooperation held in Abuja.
The Minister highlighted that the new phase of bi-lateral strategic partnership between the two countries is aimed at boosting mineral development, technology transfer, and industrialization across the continent in order to help transform the potentials of the alliance between Nigeria and South Africa.
“Our partnership in the mining sector holds immense promise to unlock Africa’s mineral wealth, drive industrialization, create jobs, and foster sustainable development.
“This meeting marks a significant step in strengthening the bilateral relationship between our two nations,” Alake noted.
He disclosed that both countries were finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that would focus on: “technology and knowledge transfer; cross-border investment promotion; capacity building through joint training and research; regional alignment with the African Mining vision; and value addition in mineral production.”
Reflecting on the historical ties between the two countries, Alake noted the longstanding diplomatic and economic cooperation built on mutual respect and a shared vision for Africa’s development. He stressed that collaboration in the mining sector offers vast opportunities for industrialization, job creation, and sustainable growth across the continent.
Describing President Tinubu efforts in repositioning the solid minerals sector, Alake said, “Nigeria is undergoing a major transformation in its mining sector. We are committed to creating an enabling environment for responsible mining and attracting investment.
”He emphasized the importance of leveraging South Africa’s globally acclaimed mining expertise to enhance Nigeria’s value chains, especially in lithium, gold, tin, baryte, and rare earth elements.
The Nigeria-South Africa mining cooperation is part of a broader efforts to strengthen continental trade and integration under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with both countries positioning themselves as leaders in sustainable mineral development.
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