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Speaking at a press briefing preparatory to the commencement of the much awaited 2025 edition of AFNIS with the theme; "Harnessing Local Content For Sustainable Development" slated to hold in Abuja, the minister recalled that since inception in 2022 as Nigeria-Africa Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit, AFNIS has recorded significant growth on both ambition and impact, with the maiden edition laying a strong foundation with emphasis on climate-friendly, industrialization, responsible mining and sustainable financing.
"Harnessing Local Content For Sustainable Development" what does that mean in real time? It means we are done talking about potentials. It means we are focused on production. On adding value. On ensuring that the minerals we mine, the gas we flare, the land we farm, and the sun that shines abundantly on this continent are all translated into real, measurable improvements in the lives of our people.
"Today, AFNIS is Africa's flagship platform for cross-sector dialogue, investment matchmaking, and long-term strategic partnerships across the natural resources and energy value chain," the minister noted.
Dr. Alake, who spoke through a representative in the person of the Director General of the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office, Simon Obadiah Nkom, explained that the 2025 edition has been structured to reflect that growth as it will feature; a ministerial and CEO Retreat focused on shaping vision and trust among key stakeholders; a strategic partnership summit where deals will be made and policies unveiled as well as a technical and investment forum that brings experts and innovators together on key topics such as ESG, critical minerals, and agriculture-mining linkages.
"Our theme this year encourages a serious rethink about how Africa can shift away from exporting raw materials and instead build factories, refine minerals, generate power locally, and create jobs at home. This summit is about building value where the resources come from," he said.
He further broke the key areas of focus to include; local industrialization; energy transition; cross-sector integration; as well as policy and financing.
The minister highlighted one major aspect of the summit as the formal launch of the "Africans for Africa" Fund; which he explained is a bold initiative designed to mobilise African capital for African priorities.
"This is not 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.
"For Nigeria, this summit gives us an opportunity to showcase progress under the Renewed Hope Agenda. We will present updates on our reforms in the solid minerals sector-local processing efforts, renewed commitment to community development agreements, the rollout of our mineral data platform (NMRDSS), and new steps we are taking to attract responsible investment and ensure that mining benefits all stakeholders," he stated.
He urged the collaboration of the media as critical in highlighting the summit's activities.
"A word to the media: You play a critical role. Beyond reporting, you shape the public imagination. You bring attention to ideas, to problems and more importantly, to solutions. We count on you to tell this story with depth, fairness and insight.
"This is our moment to send a message: that Africa is serious about owning and leading it's resource future. That we are no longer content to sit on wealth, we are ready to build with it," the minister affirmed..
The Director, Investment Promotion and Mineral Trade in her Closing Remarks, noted that the 2025 AFNIS is not just another conference, but a catalyst for change as it represents Africa's determination to shape its own development trajectory through inclusive participation, strategic investment and sustainable practices.