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From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The federal government has launched the Early-Stage Mineral Exploration and Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE) programme in a bold move to unlock Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth and drive industrial growth.
Unveiling the initiative, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the programme will boost mineral exploration, support critical minerals development, and fund research to accelerate value addition in the mining sector.
He said EMERGE will focus on three key areas—mineral exploration, critical minerals development, and research and development—to generate reliable geological data, promote local processing, and position Nigeria to reap the benefits of the global energy transition.
Alake said the government is determined to end the era of exporting raw minerals, shifting attention instead to local refining and processing.
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He added that grants will be made available to tertiary institutions for geoscience and mineral-processing research, while assuring stakeholders that beneficiaries will emerge through a transparent and merit-based selection process.
The minister disclosed that the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) has already facilitated major investments, including a 1.5 million metric tonne per annum aluminium refinery project.
Earlier, SMDF Executive Secretary Fatima Shinkafi described EMERGE as a game-changer that will attract investment, strengthen geological data, and deepen local value addition.
According to her, the initiative will empower indigenous miners, spur industrialisation, and position Nigeria as a leading destination for critical minerals, driving the global energy transition.
Stakeholders from the mining sector, the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the National Assembly attended the launch.
