The 19th edition of the West African Mining & Power Expo (WAMPEX) is currently ongoing at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra.

Bringing together procurement specialists, engineers, operations managers, and business leaders, along with more than 250 exhibitors from 20 countries, the event is set to end on Friday, June 5.

The West African Mining & Power Expo is the leading exhibition and conference for the full mining value chain in West Africa. For over 32 years, WAMPEX has connected international and local businesses with the region’s significant mining market. The event is organised by dmg events, in partnership with the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Events & Projects International Ltd (EPI).

As part of the programme outline, top Ministers from Nigeria, Mali and Ghana are expected to interact with attendees. Taking the stage today was Mr. Oladele Henry Alake, Honourable Minister for Solid Minerals Development, Nigeria.

Find below his full speech:

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF SOLID MINERALS DEVELOPMENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE 2026 WEST AFRICAN MINING AND POWER EXPO (WAMPEX), HELD FROM 3RD – 5TH JUNE 2026

THEME: “HOW CAN RESPONSIBLE MINING AND POWER ACCELERATE WEST AFRICA’S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT?”

PROTOCOLS

It is with great honour and a deep sense of responsibility that I address this distinguished gathering at the 2026 edition of the West African Mining and Power Expo (WAMPEX), widely acknowledged as the largest and most prestigious mining and power industry platform in West Africa.

Permit me to sincerely commend the organisers for sustaining this important platform that continues to bring together policymakers, industry leaders, investors, development partners, technical experts, innovators, and other critical stakeholders committed to shaping the future of mining and energy development across our region.

The theme of this year’s conference, “How Can Responsible Mining and Power Accelerate West Africa’s Sustainable Development?”, is not only timely, but profoundly strategic. It speaks directly to the defining challenge and opportunity of our time: how to transform our vast natural resource endowments into inclusive prosperity, industrial growth, energy security, environmental sustainability, and long-term socio-economic advancement for our people.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

West Africa is richly endowed with strategic mineral resources and immense energy potential. From gold, lithium, iron ore, bauxite, manganese, limestone, and rare earth minerals, to our expanding renewable energy opportunities, our region possesses the critical assets needed to become a major driver of global industrial transformation and energy transition.

Yet, for decades, the paradox has remained that resource abundance has not always translated into broad-based development. In many cases, our economies remained exporters of raw materials, while value addition, manufacturing, technology transfer, and industrial wealth creation occurred elsewhere.

Today, however, a new reality is emerging.

The global shift towards clean energy technologies, electric mobility, digital infrastructure, and sustainable industrial systems has dramatically increased demand for critical minerals — many of which are abundantly available in Africa, particularly within West Africa.

This moment therefore presents a historic opportunity for our region to reposition itself not merely as a source of raw materials, but as an active participant in global value chains through responsible mining, local beneficiation, regional industrial integration, and strategic energy development.

To achieve this vision, three pillars are indispensable: sound governance, responsible mining practices, and reliable power infrastructure.

First, sound policy and regulatory frameworks remain fundamental.

Investors seek stability, transparency, predictability, and institutional credibility. Governments therefore have a responsibility to create enabling environments that encourage long-term investments while safeguarding national interests and community welfare.

In Nigeria, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the solid minerals sector is undergoing comprehensive reforms aimed at repositioning mining as a major contributor to economic diversification, industrialisation, and national development.

Our approach is guided by a clear vision anchored on sector formalisation, improved governance, investor confidence, local value addition, revenue optimisation, environmental sustainability, community development, and international competitiveness.

We are strengthening geological data generation, modernising licensing processes, enhancing transparency, combating illegal mining, improving security architecture around mining sites, and deepening stakeholder engagement across the value chain.

Furthermore, we are deliberately shifting from a “pit-to-port” model to a “mine-to-market” industrial framework that prioritises local processing, beneficiation, refining, and downstream manufacturing.

This is because Africa cannot continue exporting jobs and importing poverty.

We must move from exporting raw minerals to exporting value-added products, industrial inputs, technology components, and refined materials that create jobs, strengthen regional economies, and increase domestic revenue retention.

Distinguished participants,

Responsible mining must also remain at the heart of our development strategy.

Mining cannot be truly successful if it leaves communities impoverished, ecosystems degraded, or future generations burdened with environmental liabilities.

Responsible mining therefore demands strong environmental stewardship, ethical business conduct, community inclusion, occupational safety, gender inclusion, transparency, and respect for human rights.

It requires balancing economic growth with ecological sustainability.

In Nigeria, we are strengthening environmental compliance mechanisms, promoting safer mining practices, supporting artisanal and small-scale miners through formalisation initiatives, and encouraging operators to adopt globally accepted Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards.

We are also deepening collaboration with host communities to ensure that mining operations generate shared prosperity, reduce conflict, and promote social cohesion.

Importantly, sustainable mining cannot thrive without sustainable power.

Reliable, affordable, and cleaner energy systems are essential for mineral processing, industrial production, infrastructure development, and economic competitiveness.

Across West Africa, inadequate power supply continues to constrain industrial growth and investment potential. Addressing this challenge requires bold regional cooperation, integrated energy planning, cross-border infrastructure development, and increased investment in both conventional and renewable energy solutions.

The future of mining and the future of energy are now deeply interconnected.

As global industries pursue decarbonisation, Africa has an opportunity to build mining systems powered increasingly by cleaner energy sources, while also leveraging critical minerals to support the global energy transition.

This intersection between mining and power creates enormous opportunities for innovation, industrial expansion, and sustainable growth.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,

No single country can achieve these ambitions alone.

Regional cooperation must therefore become a central pillar of West Africa’s development strategy.

We must strengthen collaboration in infrastructure development, mineral value chains, energy connectivity, trade facilitation, research and innovation, capacity building, and investment promotion.

Platforms such as WAMPEX provide valuable opportunities for governments and industry stakeholders to align strategies, share experiences, build partnerships, and advance collective regional goals.

West Africa’s future competitiveness will depend not only on the abundance of our resources, but on the quality of our institutions, the strength of our partnerships, the efficiency of our infrastructure, and the courage of our leadership.

The world is changing rapidly.

Global supply chains are being reconfigured. Demand for critical minerals is rising. Sustainable investment capital is increasingly seeking credible jurisdictions. Energy transition is accelerating. Technological innovation is reshaping industries.

Africa must not watch these transformations from the sidelines.

We must position ourselves deliberately and strategically at the centre of the emerging global economic architecture.

For Nigeria, this means transforming our mining sector from one driven primarily by potential to one driven by tangible investment, industrial production, job creation, technological advancement, and sustainable national prosperity.

It also means building stronger partnerships across Africa and with the international community based on mutual benefit, shared responsibility, and long-term value creation.

As we engage over the next few days, I encourage all stakeholders to focus not only on challenges, but on actionable solutions capable of unlocking the immense opportunities before us.

Let us commit ourselves to responsible resource governance.

Let us build mining industries that empower communities and protect the environment.

Let us develop energy systems that support industrialisation and inclusive growth.

Let us strengthen regional cooperation and economic integration.

And above all, let us ensure that Africa’s mineral and energy wealth becomes a catalyst for sustainable development, peace, prosperity, and shared progress for present and future generations.

On this note, I wish all participants fruitful deliberations and a successful conference.

Thank you and God bless.