Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has called on African nations to unite in transforming the continent's vast mineral wealth into sustainable prosperity, declaring that Africa must move away from the longstanding pattern of exporting wealth while importing poverty.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the 5th African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS 2026) in Abuja on Thursday, Alake said there was broad consensus among stakeholders on the need to leverage Africa's natural resources for industrialisation, economic growth and improved living standards.
According to him, while there may be differing opinions on the methods for achieving the continent's development goals, there is a clear convergence of interests among African countries.
"There is no divergence on where we are headed. There may be differences in modalities, but there is a convergence of interest. We want to stop the exportation of prosperity and the importation of poverty," Alake said.
The minister noted that discussions throughout the two-day summit focused on advancing mineral development, improving exploration and extraction processes, and ensuring that revenues generated from Africa's natural resources benefit both present and future generations.
He described the current period as a defining moment for Africa, urging governments, investors and industry leaders to abandon outdated models of unequal economic relationships and embrace strategies that prioritize local value addition and shared prosperity.
"Our generation has a mandate to steer Africa away from the old, jaded model of unequal transactional exchange into one that is mutually beneficial to all Africans," he stated.
Alake acknowledged the numerous challenges facing the continent's mining sector but insisted that obstacles should serve as motivation rather than discouragement.
Drawing inspiration from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's leadership philosophy, the minister said challenges are an inevitable part of progress and must be confronted with determination and innovation.
"Challenges are not meant to discourage us. They are meant to invigorate us. When you overcome challenges, the victory becomes sweeter," he said.
He emphasized that Africa's development journey would require resilience, patience and practical action, noting that no nation has achieved meaningful progress without overcoming significant hurdles.
The minister urged participants to move beyond policy discussions and ensure that commitments made during the summit translate into tangible projects and investments.
"We don't want everything to end here in speeches, remarks and photographs. We need actualities. We need real projects, real investments and real outcomes that demonstrate the credibility of the ideas discussed here," he said.
Alake pointed to several agreements and partnerships signed during AFNIS 2026 as evidence that the summit has evolved beyond a platform for dialogue into a catalyst for concrete action.
"The signing ceremonies we witnessed here are eloquent testimonies to stated objectives and achievement of goals. AFNIS has not been a talking shop; it has become a platform for results," he added.
The minister also stressed the importance of leadership at all levels of society, arguing that Africa's transformation cannot be driven solely by political leaders.
According to him, leadership begins within families, communities, institutions and businesses, where individuals must demonstrate integrity, responsibility and a commitment to solving problems.
"Leadership is not just political leadership. Leadership begins from the home front. When we embrace the values of sincere and purposeful leadership at every level, Africa will rise," he said.
Alake commended participants, sponsors and organizers for their contributions to the success of the summit and expressed optimism that the initiatives launched during AFNIS 2026 would yield measurable results in the coming years.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to promoting sustainable mining, attracting investment and strengthening Africa's position in the global mineral value chain.
The summit, themed 'One Africa, One Resource Vision,' brought together policymakers, investors, mining executives, development partners and industry experts from across the continent to discuss strategies for unlocking Africa's natural resource potential and driving industrial transformation.
Declaring the summit officially closed, Alake expressed confidence that the ideas and partnerships forged during the event would contribute significantly to Africa's economic future.
"We will never grow weary of overcoming challenges. For me, challenges are opportunities, and together we will continue to transform those opportunities into progress for Africa and future generations," he said.