Abuja: The Nigeria NOW! event is set to take place on 19 and 20 November at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, under the patronage of the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake. The event is expected to gather between 500 and 600 delegates from sectors including energy, infrastructure, and mining.
According to African Press Organization, the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development is partnering with EnergyNet to deliver the inaugural Nigeria NOW! event. The Ministry has committed to remain involved throughout the preparatory period rather than only participating during the event itself. The Ministry hosted the Abuja launch, secured the patronage of the Honourable Minister, and convened three additional federal ministries as deliberate participants.
Speaking at the launch through Engr. Obadiah Simon Nkom, Director-General of the Mining Cadastre Office, Dr. Alake explained the involvement of four ministries. He noted that infrastructure, licensing, financing, technology, security, and market access fall under several mandates, making it necessary for multiple ministries to collaborate to address investors' inquiries comprehensively.
Nigeria has implemented a policy whereby no mining license is issued without a plan for a local processing plant. This policy has led to significant investments, including a $1.3 billion partnership with the Africa Finance Corporation for an alumina refinery, geological mapping, and exploration support, and a $600 million lithium processing plant near the Kaduna-Niger border. Additionally, a $200 million lithium refinery is planned outside Abuja.
A working demonstration of this policy is the lithium plant at Endo in Nasarawa State, commissioned on 2 July, processing 6,000 tonnes of ore daily with an investment of approximately $250 million. Sector revenue surpassed 38 billion naira in 2024 compared to 6 billion in the previous year. A memorandum signed with Turkey in May includes exploration, technology transfer, digitalisation, and training, with the Solid Minerals Development Fund awarding exploration grants under its new EMERGE endowment.
Nigeria's power sector is undergoing a transformation towards decentralised decision-making. Two years after the implementation of the Electricity Act 2023, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has transferred regulatory oversight to sixteen subnational commissions, empowering states with authority over their electricity markets. The Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority has invested in distributed renewable energy, resulting in industrial self-supply reaching 200MW, with projects such as a steel plant breaking ground.
Dr. Alake emphasised that the days of exporting raw minerals from pit to port are over, highlighting the shift towards local processing and value addition.
The Nigeria NOW! event aims to bring together government, investors, project developers, financial institutions, and development partners, focusing on projects, capital, and partnerships rather than mere announcements. The programme spans two days at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
Abdoulaye Sylla, Portfolio Manager and Head of Corporate Development at EnergyNet, stated, "This is the first Nigeria NOW! held in Nigeria, and the Ministry's commitment to stay involved through the preparatory period is what makes it different from a conference that arrives and leaves. We expect between 500 and 600 delegates, and the Ministry has asked that the Expo be judged on what is delivered after it closes."
Nextier will join the Expo as the Official Advisory Partner, providing strategic advisory and media support throughout the programme.
The Nigerian Indigenous Women in Mining and Natural Resources Organisation (NIWIMNRO) will join as the Women in Mining Partner. The network was recognised at the Abuja launch with EnergyNet's Leadership Award and a $25,000 grant, following its expansion of work with women artisanal miners across all six of Nigeria's geopolitical zones, providing protective equipment, mobile medical visits, and cooperative registration alongside training.
The Youth Energy Summit (YES!) will run concurrently with Nigeria NOW! on 20 November at the same venue, bringing young professionals and entrepreneurs into the same building as investors and ministries. The Youth Sustainable Development Network will join as a partner for the Nigerian edition, alongside the University of Abuja's Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Students as YES! Supporting Partner.