Speaking at the African Natural Resources and Energy Investment Summit in Abuja, Nigerian president Tinubu said Africa must stop exporting raw materials without adding value locally. He stressed that the continent should build stronger industries around mineral processing, battery production, and energy development rather than remain dependent on foreign markets.
Tinubu’s remarks come as African leaders increasingly push for resource-driven industrialisation and greater economic sovereignty. He said the continent’s future depends on using its own resources to create jobs, attract investment, and strengthen local economies.
His comments also reflect a broader call for African countries to work together on industrial policy and value addition, especially as global demand for critical minerals rises. Tinubu argued that the continent should take a bigger role in the global supply chain instead of remaining only a supplier of raw commodities.
The message is clear: Africa’s minerals, energy, and market size give it a strategic advantage, but that advantage will only matter if the continent processes more of what it produces at home.
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