The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Oladele Alake, has called on African nations to stop relying on raw mineral exports and instead focus on local processing and value addition to boost industrial growth.

Speaking at the Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition 2026, Alake warned that Africa risks missing out on major economic benefits if it continues exporting raw materials while importing finished goods.
 

He said the continent, despite its rich reserves of critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, manganese, and graphite, still earns only a small fraction of global value from the sector.

According to him, a fragmented approach weakens Africa’s bargaining power, while regional cooperation under platforms like the Africa Minerals Strategy Group and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) can help strengthen the continent’s position in global supply chains.

Alake stressed that value addition would create jobs, boost industrialisation, increase government revenue, and improve economic resilience across African countries.

He also called for harmonised mining regulations, better infrastructure, and improved governance to attract long-term investment into the sector.