...✍️ Ofor Nwodo
In an era where nations rise or fall by how well they harness their natural resources for industrial transformation, Nigeria is beginning to chart a bold new course, one defined by innovation, value addition, and strategic partnerships. At the center of this emerging narrative stands Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji, Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, whose visionary leadership continues to reposition Nigeria as a continental powerhouse for technology-driven economic growth.
Yesterday in New York, on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80), Nigeria took another decisive step in that direction. At the Second Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals, Vice President Kashim Shettima led Nigeria’s delegation, delivering a strong message to African leaders, sovereign wealth funds, and global investors: Africa’s mineral wealth must power industrialization and create jobs, not merely feed foreign industries through raw exports. It was a call to action for a continent long trapped in the paradox of abundance without prosperity.
Chief Uche Nnaji, speaking in his goodwill message, reinforced this vision with the quiet confidence of a technocrat who understands that policy must be matched with concrete action. He outlined an ambitious programme that aligns perfectly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—a blueprint for economic diversification and sustainable development.
First is the nationwide mineral mapping initiative, an unprecedented effort to identify and document Nigeria’s critical mineral resources across all 774 local governments. By creating a comprehensive database, the government is not only ensuring transparency but also providing the bedrock for informed investment decisions that will attract global partners while safeguarding national interests.
Second is the groundbreaking 30% Value Addition Bill, sponsored through the Raw Materials Research and Development Council. This legislation mandates that no critical mineral leaves Nigeria without at least 30 percent local value addition. In practical terms, it signals the end of the old order of raw material exportation and the dawn of a new era where Nigeria becomes a hub for mineral processing, beneficiation, and manufacturing. This is how jobs are created, industries are born, and wealth remains within the country.
Equally transformative is the harnessing of space technology to drive mineral development. Chief Nnaji announced the Federal Executive Council’s approval for the acquisition of four high-resolution satellites, a historic move that will allow Nigeria to accurately identify, quantify, and monitor its mineral reserves. By deploying satellite technology for precision exploration and planning, Nigeria is leaping into a future where science and technology guide sustainable exploitation and environmental stewardship.
These initiatives are not abstract promises. They are concrete pillars of a new economic order, one where Nigeria leverages its vast mineral wealth to power clean energy industries, drive digital transformation, and position itself as a strategic player in the global value chain. For the Nigerian youth and entrepreneurs, this means new opportunities in mineral processing, advanced manufacturing, data analytics, and the broader innovation ecosystem. For the nation, it means reducing dependence on oil and creating a diversified economy capable of weathering global shocks.
But perhaps what makes Chief Uche Nnaji’s approach so compelling is that it does not stop at national borders. His vision is Pan-African, rooted in the belief that Africa must speak with one voice and negotiate from a position of strength. By pushing for blended finance, de-risking tools, and shared beneficiation strategies, Nigeria under his watch is helping to craft a continental framework where African critical minerals fuel African industrialization.
This is not the first time Chief Nnaji has demonstrated his ability to convert lofty ideals into actionable policies. Only weeks ago, he was at the forefront of the historic Nigeria–Brazil Memorandum of Understanding on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI), a pact witnessed by Presidents Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. That agreement opened doors for collaboration in biotechnology, renewable energy, space research, and digital transformation proof that his ministry is not just managing resources but building global bridges that will sustain Nigeria’s innovation drive.
From Brasília to New York, Chief Uche Nnaji is steadily proving that Nigeria’s future lies not in exporting raw wealth but in cultivating innovation-driven prosperity. With a President providing strategic direction and a minister executing with precision, Nigeria is no longer content to be a supplier of raw materials; it is becoming a producer of knowledge, solutions, and high-value products.
The journey to a diversified, innovation-powered economy is long, but with leaders like Chief Uche Geoffrey Nnaji steering the ship, the destination is no longer a distant dream, it is a future already coming into view.
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