The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has been elected as the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group.

Alake was unanimously elected as the chairman of the mining pressure group on Monday, February 5, 2024.

Speaking at the meeting of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group, Alake charged African leaders to forge a common front to get maximum benefits from the mineral resources on the continent.

The minister, in a statement issued on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, stressed that the era of carting away solid minerals is over and urged countries on the continent to speak with one voice on value addition as a prerequisite for investment in the mining sector.

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Alake said: “Today, there is economic scramble for Africa. The critical metals needed for the energy transition are in Africa.

“Therefore, if we do not come together this time around and take our destinies in our hands, we will go through the same harrowing experiences of the past. That is why we formed this body.”

“Let those who want our minerals know that if you go to country A, you have the same regulations and laws guiding the sector. You go to country B, you find the same. So, there is no divide and rule anymore. That is when we can show sincerity of purpose, and the world will begin to take Africa seriously.

“On behalf of our president, I pledge our full support to achieve our objectives.”

The event which was held on the sidelines of the 30th edition of Investing in Africa Indaba, Cape Town, South Africa, was attended by ministers of mineral development of Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Chad, Botswana, Zambia, and Namibia.

The Star