African Nations Urged to Cooperate for Enhanced Mineral Supply Chain Positioning
Dr. Oladele Alake advocates for regional collaboration among African nations to optimize mineral resource management and enhance global competitiveness. The continent's vast mineral wealth, including lithium and cobalt, remains underutilized, necessitating policy harmonization and infrastructure development to maximize economic benefits.
Theia Market Signal Identification - AI Assisted
At the Kenya Mining Investment Conference and Exhibition 2026, Dr. Oladele Alake emphasized the need for African countries to cooperate regionally to strengthen their positions in global mineral supply chains.
He highlighted that Africa, holding significant deposits of critical minerals, captures only a small portion of the economic value from these resources due to its historical role as a raw materials exporter. Alake noted that the Africa Minerals Strategy Group has expanded from 16 to 31 member states since its inception in January 2023, serving as a platform for unifying governance and improving value retention.
He stressed the importance of value addition in the mining sector for job creation and economic resilience, warning that fragmented national policies weaken bargaining power. Cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is essential for developing shared infrastructure and negotiating better global terms.
Comments