Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has been named African Champion of the Year by the African Professionals of Australia (APA), in recognition of his leadership in reforming the mining sector and fostering diaspora engagement.
The award was presented during the Australia-Africa Diaspora Investment Forum, held on September 5, 2025, at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Perth, alongside the Africa Down Under (ADU) Mining Conference. The event drew top government officials, investors, and professionals from across Africa and the diaspora.
APA WA President, Dr. Toyosi Craig, and APA Chairman, Mr. Tommy Adebayo, jointly conferred the Certificate of Recognition and the 2025 African Professional Champion of the Year Award on Dr. Alake. Among the dignitaries in attendance were Ambassador Anwar Muktar, Consul General of Ethiopia, and Ambassador Dr. Jane Adams, Consul General of Nigeria.
Representing the Minister, Mr. Martin Imonite, Managing Director/CEO of the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company, delivered his keynote address. He reaffirmed Dr. Alake’s commitment to advancing reforms in the solid minerals sector while strengthening partnerships with African professionals globally.
The forum also featured high-level panel discussions on investment, business opportunities, expert recruitment, and emerging trends across Africa. Speakers underscored the importance of harnessing the expertise of diaspora professionals to accelerate the continent’s development.
Founded in 2007, the African Professionals of Australia has grown into one of the largest African professional networks in the country, with over 1,500 members from more than 20 African nations, spanning medicine, engineering, IT, law, accounting, education, and community development. The organisation serves as a platform for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and collective impact between Africans and Australians.
The Federal Government has inaugurated the Governing Boards and Management Teams of the South-South, South-West, and North-Central Development Commissions, charging them to deliver people-focused projects and rebuild public trust in governance.
Speaking at the ceremony held at the Rotunda Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, urged the appointees to align their mandates with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Your role isn’t just about distributing funds or managing projects; it’s about rebuilding trust in governance by delivering results that truly improve lives,” Momoh declared. He added that the Ministry had signed a Performance Bond with the President and would soon require the Commissions to do the same.
Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari Ahmadu, described the establishment of the Commissions as a strategic move by President Tinubu to bridge developmental gaps, leverage regional strengths, and drive growth across all geopolitical zones. “The mandate of these Commissions is to act as catalysts for infrastructure renewal, social empowerment, and economic diversification,” he said.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mary Ada Ogbe, commended the President for his visionary leadership and expressed confidence in the ability of the Boards and Management Teams to deliver meaningful transformation. She noted that the three Commissions now join four others already operational under the Ministry—NDDC, NEDC, SEDC, and NWDC.
Representing the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Felix Uche Nwaeke warned the appointees against “unnecessary and bogus contracts,” urging them to execute only projects with direct benefits to ordinary Nigerians. He assured them of the National Assembly’s support in ensuring development reaches the grassroots.
The event was attended by dignitaries including representatives of the Governors of Nasarawa and Plateau States, as well as the Minister of Women Affairs, Iman Ibrahim. Appointees of the new Boards pledged loyalty to the Federal Government and commitment to fast-tracking regional development.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, has urged security agencies across the G-7 states to intensify joint operations and intelligence sharing to curb cross-border crimes threatening Abuja and its neighboring states.
Wike, represented by the FCT Head of Service, Mrs. Grace Adayilo, gave the charge at the opening of the G-7 States Technical Committee Meeting held Thursday at the Nigeria Police Resource Centre, Jabi. He noted that the complexity of emerging threats ranging from kidnappings and banditry to human and drug trafficking requires synergy, collaboration, and innovative strategies. “The nature of threats has become increasingly dynamic, and criminal elements are exploiting technology and porous boundaries. Only through coordinated operations can we overcome them,” Wike said.
The G-7 Security Forum, established in 2007, brings together security chiefs from the FCT, Niger, Nasarawa, Kogi, Kaduna, Benue, and Plateau states to share intelligence, review security trends, and adopt joint strategies. The latest meeting was convened following reports of resurging criminal activities across the fringes of the FCT. Wike commended security operatives for their sacrifices and reaffirmed the Administration’s commitment to providing resources and platforms to strengthen regional security cooperation.
Speaking on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, AIG Usaini Gumel said the G-7 collaboration has proven its relevance over the years. “Alone, each state may not achieve the desired results, but when seven states come together to fight a common enemy crime and criminality the outcome is always greater,” he said, urging members to develop lasting strategies that align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
FCT Commissioner of Police and Chairman of the G-7 Technical Committee, CP Ajao Adewale, also called for deeper inter-agency collaboration and sustained intelligence sharing. Citing recent successes, he revealed how the arrest of a Nasarawa-based kidnap syndicate led to the capture of its leader, Muhammad Tahir, who had coordinated operations across Nasarawa and Plateau states. Over ₦7.4 million ransom recovered from the group, he said, underscored the need for cross-border cooperation. “This case shows that cross-border crimes cannot be fought in isolation but through intelligence-driven collaboration,” Adewale stressed.
The Commander, Defence Headquarters Garrison, Major General Alechenu Alechenu, described the G-7 initiative as a critical framework for tackling sophisticated criminal networks.
He pledged the military’s continued support to civil authorities in protecting the FCT and its neighboring states, warning that no single agency can win the war against insecurity alone.
Also, Brigadier General Bisi Onasanya underscored the critical link between security and economic growth, stressing that nations cannot thrive when the safety of lives and property is compromised. He noted that the convergence of the G7 Commissioners of Police, heads of military formations, and senior security officials was not only timely but also strategic in reinforcing collaboration towards safeguarding the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its contiguous states.
He recalled the security challenges of the early 2000s, warning against complacency in the face of current gains. “It will be very dangerous for us to rest on our oars because it is not yet Uhuru. This gathering must translate into actionable strategies that guarantee that every man and woman in the FCT and neighboring states can go to bed with their two eyes closed,” he said. Onasanya urged participants to make meaningful contributions, assuring that their deliberations would go a long way in shaping sustainable solutions for the security architecture of the nation’s capital.
The meeting also spotlighted the impact of insecurity on education. The Mandate Secretary of the FCTA Education Secretariat, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, warned that abductions of teachers in rural communities were worsening the out-of-school children crisis despite government’s renovation of 73 public schools.
Similarly, the Mandate Secretary, Women Affairs, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, stressed that insecurity in vulnerable communities was discouraging teachers from serving and pushing more children out of classrooms. “We cannot continue this way because the negative impact of out-of-school children is too dangerous to ignore,” she said.
FCTA Director of Security Services and Secretary of the G-7 Technical Committee, Mr. Adamu Gwary, reaffirmed that while states may record individual successes, greater results are achieved collectively. “This program comes at the right time, especially considering the current security challenges. Alone, each state may not achieve the desired results, but together, the outcome is always greater,” he said.
The G-7 Committee is expected to map out vulnerable areas, develop operational strategies, and recommend decisive measures to strengthen security in the region.
The Federal Cooperative College, Eleyele, Ibadan, has officially flagged off the Geneith Health Competition (GHC), a ₦1 billion nationwide initiative aimed at empowering students as ambassadors in the fight against malaria.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony on Monday, August 25, 2025, the Provost of the College, Dr. Ibrahim Abdul Ganiyu, described malaria as the biggest health challenge facing students in the institution, with nearly 90 percent of clinic visits linked to malaria symptoms.
“Malaria is a killer disease, and anything that supports its eradication is welcome at this time. One of President Bola Tinubu’s eight-point agenda is to reinvigorate the healthcare system for the benefit of all, and this initiative keys directly into that vision. Our students are ready to take up the challenge, and I believe we will not only participate but also excel in this competition,” Dr. Abdul Ganiyu said.
He further revealed that the college had procured 1,000 doses of malaria drugs to ensure students remain healthy and ready to compete.
The competition, which was launched nationally in Abuja on May 2 by Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate (represented by Dr. Godwin Ntadom), has since gained widespread support from stakeholders across the health and education sectors.
Chairing the Ibadan event was Hajia Wosilat Giwa, Chairperson of the Governing Council of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, alongside top dignitaries including Pharm. Tanko Ibrahim Ayuba, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), and Pharm. (Prof.) Cyril Odianose Usifoh, Immediate Past President of PSN and Co-chairman of the College of Assessors.
Prince Cletus Ilobanafor, MD/CEO of CEOAFRICA and initiator of the competition, explained that the Geneith Health Competition carries a ₦1 billion commitment from Geneith Pharmaceuticals ₦400 million in cash prizes and ₦600 million in scholarships and incentives.
“Malaria is Nigeria’s deadliest enemy, causing economic loss and untimely deaths. Through this competition, our goal is to raise a generation of students who will be true ambassadors for a malaria-free Nigeria,” Ilobanafor said, stressing the need for prevention and student-led community health action.
Student leaders also pledged their commitment. Comrade Emmanuel Aluko, President of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the college, called the initiative “a life-changing opportunity,” while Comrade Oyewumi Festus Ayomide, National President of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), urged Nigerian students to participate, describing it as both a health and educational empowerment platform.
Registration for the competition, which began on June 1, 2025, will run until February 15, 2026, with students encouraged to sign up via www.geneithhealthcompetition.com.
The launch positions the Federal Cooperative College as a pioneer in student-led public health advocacy, inspiring other institutions nationwide to take up the fight against malaria and safeguard the welfare of their communities.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, has ordered mining marshals to seal an illegal gold mining site in Gwagwalada, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), declaring that the Federal Government will no longer condone unlawful mining activities.
“Illegal mining will not be tolerated anywhere in this country. We are committed to eradicating it and safeguarding our environment and communities,” Alake warned.
His directive came after intelligence reports revealed fresh illegal operations on farmland behind CKC in Gwagwalada, where artisanal miners reportedly invaded following the accidental discovery of a gold vein during the digging of a soakaway pit.
The minister’s action follows a similar operation on August 16, 2025, when mining marshals sealed another site in the District 2 Extension layout, Gwagwalada, leading to the arrest of 16 suspects now awaiting prosecution.
During an on-the-spot assessment of the latest sealed site on Wednesday, officials of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development led by the Director of Mines Inspectorate, represented by Deputy Director Sunday Okhuoya, confirmed full compliance with the order. Okhuoya added that thorough investigations are underway to forestall further breaches.
Commander of the Mining Marshals, Assistant Commandant of Corps (ACC) John Attah Onoja, disclosed that his team had mounted 24-hour surveillance on both affected sites pending the conclusion of the Federal Government’s inquiry.
Dr. Alake also advised residents to avoid the locations due to potential environmental and health risks, while assuring that the Ministry is fast-tracking the deployment of satellite surveillance technology to strengthen monitoring and enforcement across Nigeria’s mining sector.
Nigeria and Japan are set to deepen collaboration in the mining sector as both countries align investment plans to unlock opportunities in Nigeria’s vast mineral resources.
The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) confirmed the development following strategic talks between Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, and officials of the Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) on the sidelines of the 9th Tokyo International Conference for African Trade and Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama.
According to a statement by Mr. Kehinde Bamigbetan, Special Adviser to the Honourable Minister, the meeting focused on attracting Japanese mining companies into Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.
President of JOGMEC, Mr. Michio Daito, acknowledged Nigeria’s rich mineral deposits but stressed the need for more clarity on economic conditions before Japanese firms commit to large-scale investments. He highlighted issues such as power supply, tax incentives, labour, free trade zones, and infrastructure as critical to reducing investment risks.
Responding, Dr. Alake assured Japanese investors that President Bola Tinubu’s reforms including subsidy removal, a stabilised exchange rate, and major rail, road, and waterway projects have created a more enabling environment for businesses.
“Producing and processing the critical minerals you need in Nigeria is cheaper and more profitable as the costs of production are lower,” Alake said, adding that recent electricity sector reforms would allow industries to generate and manage their own power supply.
The Minister also disclosed that Japanese mining companies would benefit from tax holidays and duty waivers on equipment, while urging them to invest in local processing of minerals before export in line with Nigeria’s value-addition policy.
The talks also featured the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company (NSMC), represented by its CEO, Martins Imonitie. The NSMC, designed to take equity stakes in mining projects, is expected to serve as a trusted partner to strengthen investor confidence.
Earlier engagements with Japanese trading giants Mitsubishi Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, and Mitsui & Company had signaled growing interest in Nigeria’s mining industry, with final commitments expected after JOGMEC’s approval.
The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to strengthen technical exchanges and foster direct collaboration between JOGMEC and NSMC to accelerate concrete investment outcomes.
For decades, Nigeria stood at the edge of promise—rich in minerals, rich in minds, yet poor in outcomes. The story was painfully familiar: foreign firms arrived with fanfare, extracted our birthright, and left behind dust, debt, and disillusionment. Communities watched trucks roll out with wealth they would never touch. Governments signed deals that mortgaged tomorrow for pennies. And the people—resilient, brilliant, hopeful—were told to wait.
But something is shifting. Quietly. Purposefully.
In the ochre hills of Nasarawa, machines now hum with intent. Not to extract and export, but to refine and retain. Nigeria’s first lithium processing plant, commissioned in 2024, is not just a factory—it is a statement. It says: We will no longer sell our future raw. It says: We will build here, employ here, prosper here.
This is not a lone effort. It is a coordinated uprising of vision. Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reformist leadership, Nigeria has declared an end to the era of economic surrender. His administration has banned the export of unprocessed lithium, demanded value addition, and insisted that every investor must leave behind more than profit—they must leave behind progress.
And they are listening.
By mid-2025, six lithium factories—some operational, others nearing completion—dot the Nigerian landscape. From Avatar New Energy’s 1-million-ton-per-year plant in Nasarawa to Ming Xin’s 1,500-ton-per-day facility in Kaduna, the numbers are staggering. Jiuling Lithium Mining and Canmax Technologies are investing hundreds of millions more, with new plants rising near Abuja and the Kaduna-Niger border. ReElement Technologies has joined the charge, bringing US capital into the fold.
Together, these factories will form the foundation of a new industrial base. But the true measure of this revolution is not in tonnage, but in value. And the numbers are staggering in their own right.
Based on direct projections from the landmark $1.3 billion investment led by the African Finance Corporation and the Solid Minerals Development Fund, Nigeria’s initial lithium factories are expected to generate approximately $1.2 billion in annual economic output once fully operational. This is not a distant dream—it is the stated target for the first wave of major processing facilities in Kaduna and Nasarawa.
But this is merely the beginning. This $1.2 billion base is the proof of concept, the critical first step that validates Nigeria’s strategy of banning raw exports and demanding local beneficiation. Industry analysts, seeing this momentum, forecast that as more plants come online and export supply chains mature, total lithium sector revenues could surge to $4.2 billion by 2026 and reach as high as $8.5 billion by 2035.
The math of sovereignty is now clear. Even at this initial stage, the state’s share—captured through taxes, royalties, wages, and local procurement—will far exceed the crumbs of the past. This time, the wealth won’t vanish into offshore accounts or foreign boardrooms. It will build roads, fund schools, power homes, and pay salaries. It is the fruit of a policy that insists: We will no longer sell our future raw.
But this revolution is not just economic. It is emotional. It is moral.
It is the story of a country reclaiming its dignity. Of a government saying never again to the exploitation of its people and land. Of communities like Endo and Kangimi, once forgotten, now becoming hubs of innovation and employment. Over 50,000 jobs are projected—engineers, welders, drivers, cooks, teachers. The ripple effect is real.
Backing this vision with precision and resolve is the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Henry Dele Alake—a man whose tenure has brought rare dynamism and order to a sector long plagued by opacity and neglect. Under his watch, Nigeria’s solid minerals space has shifted from chaos to clarity, from speculation to structure. He has ensured the implementation of President Tinubu’s policies in the solid mineral sector with meticulous fidelity. His administrative mantras are not just technical—they are transformational, rooted in discipline, transparency, and a fierce commitment to national interest.
And it is the story of Africa rising—not as a supplier of raw materials, but as a manufacturer of solutions. Lithium powers the batteries in electric cars, solar panels, and smartphones. It is the mineral of the future. And Nigeria, with its reserves and resolve, is positioning itself not just to participate—but to lead.
President Tinubu’s stance is clear. When global giants came asking for raw lithium, he said no. Not out of defiance, but out of duty. “The era of exporting raw solid minerals from Nigeria is over,” he declared. And with that, he drew a line in the sand—a line between the past we endured and the future we deserve.
This is not a miracle. It is a movement. A silent revolution, built on policy, discipline, and belief. It is the kind of change that doesn’t scream—it works. And it is working.
So let the cynics watch. Let the skeptics wait. Nigeria is not asking for applause. It is building. Deliberately. Powerfully. Permanently.
The ground beneath our feet is no longer just soil—it is sovereignty. And from it, a new Nigeria is rising. One that will never again trade its birthright for peanuts. One that will refine its minerals, its vision, and its destiny.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, says his administration has reversed the trend of bloated recurrent expenditure by slashing it down and allocating 70 percent of the FCT budget to capital projects, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Phase II rehabilitation of the Lower Usman Dam in Ushafa on Tuesday in Bwari Area Council, Abuja.
Wike stressed that his reforms were designed to end wasteful spending and channel resources into infrastructure and essential services that directly impact residents.
He accused some civil servants of awarding frivolous contracts worth between ₦5 million and ₦25 million without ministerial approval, describing such practices as avenues through which funds for meaningful projects had been diverted in the past.
“Computers every year and foreign trips will not solve our problems. What will help is the development of our people roads, schools, water, and security. That is what is important,” the Minister said.
On the controversy surrounding alleged unpaid indigenous contractors, the Minister vowed not to bow to blackmail or approve payments for irregularly awarded jobs.
“When you want to fight corruption, corruption will fight you back. But we will defeat corruption. If anybody says I awarded a contract, let them bring the documents. I will not be intimidated,” he declared.
Wike also hit back at critics who accuse the FCTA of focusing only on roads, insisting that the administration was investing heavily in other sectors, particularly education.
He directed the Secretary of Education to publish a list of completed, renovated, and ongoing schools across the FCT.
The Federal Government has announced a significant subsidy on the cost of kidney dialysis in Federal hospitals, reducing the price from N50,000 to N12,000 per session.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare described the intervention as a life-saving measure designed to ease the physical and financial burden on patients, particularly vulnerable Nigerians, while expanding access to universal health coverage.
“This intervention is a deliberate initiative of the present administration to bring relief to patients with kidney-related diseases and expand access to universal health coverage,” the Ministry stated in a release signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director and Head of Information & Public Relations.
The pilot scheme is currently running in 11 Federal Tertiary Health Institutions across all geopolitical zones, namely:
Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital
University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital
University of Jos Teaching Hospital
National Hospital, Abuja
Federal Medical Centre, Ebute Metta
University College Hospital, Ibadan
University of Benin Teaching Hospital
Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa
Federal Teaching Hospital, Owerri
Federal Medical Centre, Abakaliki
The Ministry dismissed reports suggesting that the Northwest was excluded, insisting that the scheme is designed to benefit all Nigerians, with plans underway to extend it to more hospitals nationwide.
“The Federal Government is committed to ensuring no Nigerian is left behind in accessing healthcare services across the country under its Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement added.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr. Nyesom Wike, says his administration has reversed years of wasteful governance by cutting down recurrent expenditure and allocating 70 percent of the FCT budget to capital projects in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Phase II rehabilitation of the Lower Usman Dam in Ushafa, Bwari Area Council, Abuja, on Tuesday, Wike declared that the reforms were designed to end frivolous spending and redirect resources into infrastructure and essential services that touch the lives of residents.
He accused some civil servants of diverting funds through the award of frivolous contracts worth between ₦5 million and ₦25 million without ministerial approval. Describing the practice as wasteful, he vowed to dismantle such avenues of corruption.
“Buying computers every year and foreign trips will not solve our problems. What will help is the development of our people—roads, schools, water, and security. That is what is important,” Wike said.
On the controversy over alleged unpaid indigenous contractors, the Minister insisted he would not yield to blackmail or approve payments for irregularly awarded jobs.
“When you want to fight corruption, corruption will fight you back. But we will defeat corruption. If anybody says I awarded a contract, let them bring the documents. I will not be intimidated,” he declared.
Responding to critics who accuse the FCTA of focusing only on roads, Wike stressed that the administration was also prioritizing education. He directed the Secretary of Education to publish a comprehensive list of completed, renovated, and ongoing schools across the FCT.
