In a significant development for Nigeria's influence on the continental stage, Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has been re-elected to lead a key African mining body. The election took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, reinforcing Nigeria's central role in shaping the future of the continent's extractive industries.
A Renewed Mandate for Continental Leadership
The minister's re-election as Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) was confirmed on Sunday, January 18, 2026. This marks his second term at the helm, having first been elected to the position in 2024 during the Future Minerals Forum. The confirmation came during the group's Annual General Meeting held in the Saudi capital.
In a statement shared on his verified social media account, Alake expressed gratitude to his fellow ministers from across Africa for their renewed trust. He emphasized that the group has agreed to establish a stronger leadership structure that ensures regional balance and inclusion, which he described as critical for the platform's success.
The "Real Work" Ahead: Strategy and Collaboration
Outlining his vision for the tenure, Minister Alake moved beyond ceremonial leadership to pinpoint the practical challenges. He stated that his core focus remains ensuring that African countries collectively derive real value from their vast mineral resources. This, he argued, requires concrete actions.
The minister identified three pillars for effective collaboration:
- Agreeing on basic financial contributions from member nations.
- Establishing mutual accountability mechanisms.
- Implementing a proper budget framework to ensure the AMSG functions credibly.
He further stressed that minerals alone would not transform economies. "Beyond governance, I have been clear that minerals alone won’t transform our economies. We need infrastructure, aligned policies, and deliberate value addition," Alake stated. He defined the "real work" as designing financing and governance models that attract investment while fostering long-term growth, stability, and shared prosperity across Africa.
Nigeria's Growing Profile in International Bodies
Alake's re-election continues a trend of Nigerian officials securing prominent positions in international organizations. The news report recalled that in 2025, another member of President Bola Tinubu's cabinet, Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, was elected as the Vice-Chairman of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Council.
Furthermore, President Tinubu recently congratulated Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu, wife of the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, on her historic election as the first African to become President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).
The report also noted a sobering personal detail regarding Minister Alake, revealing that he had previously been forced to triple his personal security detail after receiving death threats. These threats were allegedly linked to individuals and companies whose mining licenses were revoked for non-compliance with regulations.
Minister Alake's renewed leadership of the AMSG positions Nigeria at the forefront of a critical continental conversation: moving from mere resource extraction to building sustainable, value-added economies powered by Africa's own mineral wealth.
