Nigeria — Over 1,000 stakeholders at the Africa Raw Materials Summit 2025, an event aimed at transforming the continent’s raw materials sector is set to be host in Nigeria.
The country is also eyeing the creation of about 3 million jobs annually from the transformation of the raw materials industry.
The three-day summit, scheduled for May 20-22, 2025, will take place in Abuja.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, Director-General/CEO of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, Professor Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso emphasised the summit’s significance in unlocking Africa’s vast resource wealth.
The summit, themed “Shaping the Future of Africa’s Resource Landscape,” will focus on strategies for economic diversification, value addition, sustainable resource management, and investment in raw materials processing.
“Africa possesses a significant share of the world’s raw materials, yet we struggle with value addition, industrial transformation, and sustainable development,” Professor Ike-Muonso noted.
“The summit aims to address these critical challenges by focusing on economic diversification, investment opportunities, and sustainable extraction techniques,” he added.
He added that the event will provide a platform for policymakers, industrial leaders, researchers, and investors to develop “actionable solutions for unlocking the full potential of Africa’s raw materials sector.”
A key highlight of the summit “is its potential to generate three million jobs annually through increased industrialization and investment in raw materials processing.”
“This summit is more than just an event; it is a movement to reshape Africa’s raw materials industry. Stakeholders can help drive industrial transformation, strengthen local industries, create jobs, and unlock Africa’s true economic potential by attending and participating,” the RMRDC boss stressed.
The summit will feature High-Level Keynotes from government officials, industry leaders, and international experts, Panel Discussions & Breakout Sessions on sustainable extraction, investment, industrialization, and trade, Networking Mixers & Investor Matchmaking Sessions to connect stakeholders with funding opportunities, Raw Materials Innovation Exhibition showcasing the latest technologies and solutions in the sector, and Workshops on Value Addition & Capacity Development to strengthen Africa’s raw materials industry.
He added that the RMRDC has opened registration for the summit, encouraging stakeholders from various sectors to participate actively.
“We encourage the active participation of key stakeholders across all sectors to ensure a comprehensive approach to raw materials development,” Ike-Muonso stated.
Interested participants were encouraged to register via the official website.
The summit offers sponsorship opportunities for organisations looking to gain visibility and strategic partnerships.
“We invite organisations, government agencies, and private sector players to seize sponsorship opportunities that offer extensive brand visibility, strategic networking, and positioning as key industry leaders,” Ike-Muonso added.
The Africa Raw Materials Summit 2025 is expected to be a game-changer, setting the stage for Africa’s industrial transformation and economic sustainability.
Margret Oshinowo|February 24, 2025