By Seun Ibiyemi
Nigeria will host the fourth edition of the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit (AFNIS) from 14 to 17 July in Abuja, bringing together stakeholders from across the continent to accelerate the sustainable development of Africa’s vast natural and energy resources.
This was announced in a statement issued on Monday by Mr Segun Tomori, Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake.
Described as Africa’s leading platform for driving inclusive and sustainable economic progress through strategic resource management, AFNIS 2025 is expected to promote trade, encourage knowledge exchange, and support the development of forward-looking policies within the natural resources sector. It will also spotlight investment opportunities across various African countries.
“The fourth edition of AFNIS will assemble visionaries, policymakers, industry leaders and stakeholders who are dedicated to unlocking the full potential of Africa’s natural wealth,” Tomori stated.
He noted that this year’s summit will bring together professionals from the mining, energy, agriculture and finance sectors, alongside decision-makers across the continent. The gathering aims to develop practical, homegrown solutions that will guide Africa towards sustainable growth through collaborative innovation.
Tomori added that AFNIS 2025 is expected to deepen partnerships and draw significant investment to Nigeria. Minister Dele Alake is slated to present the ongoing reforms in the solid minerals sector, showcasing its emerging role in driving Nigeria’s industrial transformation.
The summit, which will run for four days, is themed Harnessing Local Content for Sustainable Development. According to the statement, the event provides Nigeria with a unique opportunity to consolidate partnerships initiated at the G20 summit in New Delhi in 2023, where discussions led to multi-billion-dollar investment commitments.
It also serves as a platform to broaden Nigeria’s engagement with its domestic business community and international investors.
A key feature of the summit will be the unveiling of a lithium processing plant, a project which aligns with Minister Alake’s push for in-country value addition. The facility is expected to stimulate job creation, promote technology transfer, and contribute to long-term industrial growth.
AFNIS 2025 is anticipated to welcome high-level participants from over 25 countries, including representatives from major institutions such as the African Development Bank, World Health Organization, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, International Finance Corporation and Africa Finance Corporation.
The previous edition of AFNIS, held in 2024 in Abuja, convened a broad mix of stakeholders from the mining, agriculture, finance and energy sectors, spanning both renewable and non-renewable industries, to promote coordinated sectoral collaboration.
AFNIS 2025 aims to build on the momentum of past editions. The inaugural summit in 2022 laid the groundwork for sustainable natural resource development across Africa, while the 2023 gathering explored equitable pathways towards a greener, climate-resilient continent.
The 2024 conference reaffirmed the importance of leveraging Africa’s natural resources to drive inclusive prosperity and empower historically marginalised communities.