The Nigerian government has restated its dedication to collaborating with fellow African nations to advance the sustainable development of the continent’s abundant natural resources.
The permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Mary Ogbe emphasised this commitment during a briefing for the diplomatic community about the forthcoming Africa Natural Resource and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS-2023). The summit is scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 2, 2023.
The briefing occurred at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Abuja.
In the interactive briefing session with the diplomatic corps, Ogbe explained that Nigeria aims to work together with other African nations through the AFNIS Summit. This African knowledge-sharing platform, initiated by the Nigerian government, seeks to continue the sustainable development of Africa’s natural resources through knowledge exchange, investment and trade.
She further elaborated, “This forum was initiated to strategize on how Africa can continue to attract investment from its vast mineral resource deposits while also safeguarding its environment. The Summit thus provides a global platform for Africa to encourage investment in its power, energy (oil and gas) and mining sectors.”
As preparations for the upcoming 2023 edition of the African Natural Resource and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) are in full swing, Ogbe urged African countries and their allies to join in building upon the successes achieved during the inaugural edition of AFNIS held in 2022.
The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Adamu Lamuwa emphasised the importance for Africa to dedicate attention to the development of its vast natural and energy resources for the betterment of the continent. He added that a brighter future for Africa is attainable through AFNIS.
The managing director of Core-I-Mine and co-founder of AFNIS, Dr. Abubakar Lawal highlighted the relevance of the summit’s theme – “Towards a Just Transition.” He emphasised that this theme will explore strategies to tackle challenges associated with the shift away from fossil fuels, focusing on minimising adverse impacts on economies rooted in these sectors.
Supporting his stance, he stated, “AFNIS 2023’s central objective is to strike a delicate balance that supports Africa’s growth in the mining and energy sectors, utilising fossil fuels for industrialisation, while concurrently aligning with global climate change mitigation efforts”.
A statement from the ministry’s head of press and public relations, Alaba Balogun revealed that the three-day summit will bring together government officials from various African countries, industry experts, academics and business leaders. The agenda will revolve around discussing the complexities of achieving a just transition within the mining and energy domains, among other crucial topics.
