Abuja: The Nigeria NOW! event is set to take place on 19 and 20 November at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, under the patronage of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake. The event is expected to gather between 500 and 600 delegates from sectors including energy, infrastructure, and mining.
According to African Press Organization, the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development is partnering with EnergyNet to deliver the inaugural Nigeria NOW! event. The Ministry has committed to being actively involved throughout the preparatory period, not just during the event itself. The Abuja launch was hosted by the Ministry, which also secured the patronage of the Honourable Minister and convened three additional federal ministries as participants.
Speaking through Engr. Obadiah Simon Nkom, Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Dr. Alake explained that the participation of four ministries is essential due to the wide range of issues involved, such as infrastructure, licensing, financing, technology, security, and market access, which fall under several mandates.
Nigeria now requires that no mining licence be issued without a plan for a local processing plant. This rule has been consistently applied, leading to significant investments. These include a $1.3 billion partnership with the Africa Finance Corporation and a $600 million lithium processing plant near the Kaduna-Niger border. There is also a $200 million lithium refinery outside Abuja. A lithium plant in Nasarawa State, commissioned in July, processes 6,000 tonnes of ore daily with an investment of around $250 million.
The Nigerian power sector is adopting a principle of decentralised decision-making. Two years into the Electricity Act 2023, regulatory oversight has been transferred to sixteen subnational commissions, allowing states authority over their electricity markets. The Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority has supported distributed renewable energy, and industrial self-supply has reached 200MW.
Nigeria NOW! aims to bring together government, investors, project developers, financial institutions, and development partners focused on energy, infrastructure, and mining. It emphasizes projects, capital, and partnerships rather than mere announcements. The programme spans two days at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
“This is the first Nigeria NOW! held in Nigeria,” said Abdoulaye Sylla, Portfolio Manager and Head of Corporate Development at EnergyNet. “The Ministry’s commitment to remain involved throughout the preparatory period distinguishes it from a traditional conference.”
The event features various partners, including Nextier as the Official Advisory Partner, providing strategic advisory and media support. The Nigerian Indigenous Women in Mining and Natural Resources Organisation (NIWIMNRO) joins as the Women in Mining Partner and was recognized with EnergyNet’s Leadership Award and a $25,000 grant for its work with women artisanal miners. Other partners include the Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources and The Electricity Hub as the Official Podcast Partner.
Running alongside Nigeria NOW! is the Youth Energy Summit (YES!) on 20 November at the same venue, aimed at connecting young professionals and entrepreneurs with investors and ministries. The Youth Sustainable Development Network joins as a partner alongside the University of Abuja’s Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Students as YES! Supporting Partner.