Abuja:The Federal Government has announced that the 2nd Africa Raw Materials Summit (ARMS 2026) will serve as a significant platform to enhance Africa’s Science, Technology, and Innovation ecosystem. The summit aims to showcase the continent’s raw materials potential, contributing to Africa’s economic transformation.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Udeh, emphasized that ARMS 2026 is an indigenous forum designed for collaboration and sharing of ideas across the continent. The summit will focus on identifying shared challenges, finding practical solutions, reviewing progress, measuring impact, and addressing gaps collectively.
Dr. Udeh highlighted Nigeria’s active role in building partnerships across Africa to replicate successful approaches and adapt emerging technologies within the raw materials ecosystem. A key focus for Nigeria at the summit will be to present its achievements in the sector, moving towards processing resources locally and exporting finished products rather than raw commodities.
Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, Director-General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, stated that the summit will underline Nigeria’s role as a hub for innovation-driven resource utilization. ARMS 2026 aims to foster partnerships among governments, researchers, industries, and investors, with the ultimate goal of enhancing local processing capacity, strengthening supply chains, and ensuring African countries benefit fully from their natural resources.
This initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s broader goals of economic diversification, self-reliance, and sustainable development.