AMSG Chairperson Calls for Regional Cooperation and Mineral Value Addition at Kenya Mining Investment Conference & Exhibition 2026
Addressing delegates at the Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition 2026, H.E. Dr. Oladele Henry Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals Development of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Chairperson of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, called for deeper regional cooperation, accelerated mineral beneficiation and stronger African participation in global mineral supply chains. He emphasized that Africa must move beyond the export of raw materials and position itself as a competitive industrial and value-adding force in the global economy.
The Chairperson’s remarks positioned AMSG as a continent-wide platform for strengthening mineral governance, regional cooperation, value retention and Africa’s strategic participation in global mineral supply chains.
01. Opening Message
In his guest remarks, H.E. Dr. Oladele Henry Alake extended appreciation to the Government and people of the Republic of Kenya for convening what he described as a timely and strategic platform at a defining moment for Africa’s mining future.
He noted that the world is entering a new industrial era driven by critical minerals, clean energy technologies, digital transformation and advanced manufacturing, with Africa positioned at the centre of this transformation because of its vast endowment of lithium, cobalt, manganese, graphite, rare earth elements, gold, copper, nickel and other strategic minerals.
02. Key Highlights
- Called for stronger regional cooperation among African mineral-producing countries.
- Advocated policy alignment, shared infrastructure and coordinated investment strategies.
- Emphasized the urgent need for value addition and mineral beneficiation across Africa.
- Highlighted the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area in strengthening regional mineral value chains.
- Described AMSG as a continent-wide platform for mineral governance, value retention and strategic positioning.
- Called for Africa to engage the world from a position of collective strength and confidence.
03. Strategic Significance
The address reinforced one of the central objectives of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group: ensuring that African countries capture greater economic value from their mineral resources through processing, refining, manufacturing and innovation. The Chairperson emphasized that Africa must move beyond the old model of exporting raw materials and importing finished products.
By calling for harmonized mining policies, cross-border infrastructure, intra-African trade and regional value chains, the remarks underscored the importance of continental cooperation in strengthening Africa’s bargaining power and relevance within global mineral supply chains.
04. AMSG Institutional Message
The Chairperson described AMSG as an institutional vehicle through which African countries can transform individual national ambitions into a collective continental force. He emphasized that AMSG enables Member States to negotiate fairer terms, harmonize regulatory frameworks, pool infrastructure investment and jointly develop geological data to de-risk exploration.
The message was clear: Africa’s mineral resources may be located within national boundaries, but the opportunities they present are continental in scope.
05. Event Context
The Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition 2026 brought together government leaders, mining ministers, investors, development finance partners, captains of industry and strategic stakeholders to advance dialogue on mining investment, value addition, regional cooperation and Africa’s role in global mineral supply chains.
