Abuja: Hot on the heels of Nigeria’s unveiling of a strategic roadmap designed to convert the country’s mineral wealth into investments in clean energy manufacturing and domestic value addition, the organisers of the Nigeria Mining Week conference and expo have revealed this year’s packed and topical programme.
According to African Press Organization, the event will convene at the Abuja Continental Hotel in the Nigerian capital from 13 to 14 October. This longstanding mining gathering supports Nigeria’s ambition to become a regional refining and processing powerhouse. The theme of this year’s event is “Unlocking Investment and Growth through Partnerships.”
Unveiling strategic roadmaps, Samukelo Madlabane, Event Director – Mining Portfolio, VUKA Group, noted that the Nigerian government aims to boost beneficiation and industrialisation in its mining sector by mandating local processing, opening large-scale mineral plants, and unveiling strategic roadmaps that link critical minerals to clean energy manufacturing. Recent initiatives focus on lithium, copper, and bauxite, aiming to move beyond raw exports and build integrated value chains.
Earlier this month, the Council for Critical Minerals Development in the Global South presented a Critical Minerals Roadmap to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, outlining strategies to harness Nigeria’s lithium, copper, and bauxite resources. The roadmap aims to strengthen local industries, advance mineral beneficiation, and draw investment into green manufacturing.
Madlabane added that the Nigeria Mining Week is perfectly timed for this defining moment in the nation’s mining sector. The new Critical Minerals Forum will focus on the minerals needed for the global energy transition, such as lithium, REEs, graphite, copper, and other battery or tech minerals, and how Nigeria must position itself to attract serious investment and unlock the country’s rapidly expanding opportunities.
The event’s programme highlights include sessions on strategic leadership in the critical minerals race, building reliable pathways from Nigeria to global battery, magnet, and EV markets, and unlocking Nigeria’s exploration potential. The sessions will also focus on financing exploration and junior mining companies, industrialisation, developing Nigeria’s gemstone value chains, policy, regulation, governance, ESG, and sustainability, as well as infrastructure and power integration.
Side events and forums like The Gold Forum, The Steel and Industrial Minerals Forum, The Women in Extractive Industries Forum, The CEO Roundtable, and The Deal Room will also feature, adding to the engaging atmosphere of the event.
Over the last 11 years, Nigeria Mining Week has become the gathering place for many mining pioneers and suppliers. Titan Minerals Ltd returns as the diamond plus sponsor; KMDC, Kursi, Lovol, Sinogrand, and XCMG have already signed up as diamond sponsors; and SMT Nigeria is back as a platinum sponsor.
The event will gather over 3,000 attendees, 75+ world-class speakers, and 150+ exhibitors and solution providers. Countries expected to have a strong presence with international pavilions include the UK, EU, US, China, UAE, Canada, South Africa, and India.
The Nigeria Mining Week conference and expo is organised by the Miners Association of Nigeria, in partnership with PwC, VUKA Group, and Mining Review Africa, with the Nigerian Ministry of Mines and Steel Development as the official host. NEITI is the event’s transparency partner.