By Safia Abdulrahman
Dele Alake, the minister of solid minerals development, says Nigeria’s vast mineral resources will be harnessed to create jobs, drive industrial growth, and build long-term prosperity.
Alake spoke at the maiden edition of the national steel summit held in Abuja on Wednesday.
With the theme “Rebuilding and Consolidating Nigeria’s Steel Industry: Collaborative Action for Sustainable Growth and Global Competitiveness”, the summit aligned with Nigeria’s quest for economic diversification.
Alake explained that the ministry of solid minerals development is deliberately aligning its reforms with the ministry of steel development, noting that the steel value chain begins with mining.
“Iron and steel production will generate employment opportunities, provide capacity for self-sustaining growth, and support the development of a diversified economic base,” he said.
He stressed that Nigeria must move away from exporting raw minerals and instead leverage its mineral wealth to create jobs and industrial capacity.
Jumoke Oduwole, the minister of industry, trade and investment, said her ministry is accelerating targeted reforms in industrialisation, manufacturing, and innovation to strengthen economic diversification.
She noted that the strategy was focused on ensuring Nigeria’s resources are processed and value-added locally, thereby creating jobs, building industrial capacity, and driving long-term economic resilience.
In his remarks, the Minister of Steel Development, Mr. Shuaibu Audu, described the steel sector as the backbone of industrialisation and the broader value chain.
however, Audu observed that although Nigeria is richly endowed with raw materials for steelmaking, the absence of operational integrated steel plants has hindered the sector from reaching its full potential for industrial development.
