From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
Nigeria and South Africa on Wednesday advanced their partnership in the solid minerals sector during a technical working session in Abuja.
Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, hosted South Africa’s Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Gwede Mantashe, to discuss mining sector cooperation. Alake emphasised that collaboration between Africa’s largest economies could drive industrialisation, job creation, and sustainable development.
“Nigeria and South Africa share a longstanding history of diplomatic and economic collaboration, rooted in mutual respect and a shared vision for Africa’s prosperity,” he said.
Alake highlighted Nigeria’s mining reforms under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to attract investment and enhance value addition. He noted Africa’s untapped mineral wealth due to gaps in technology and infrastructure, stating, “By working together, Nigeria and South Africa can bridge these gaps, leveraging South Africa’s advanced mining expertise and Nigeria’s burgeoning mineral wealth.”
A proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will focus on knowledge transfer, investment promotion, and capacity building.
Mantashe urged South Africans to collaborate with Nigerians for continental growth. Nigeria’s Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu, called the session a milestone, saying, “We are ready to implement the key resolutions reached and move toward tangible outcomes.”