Tinubu Advocates for Fair Mineral Trade at G20 Summit, Championing Africa’s Economic Future
Sindile Nyathi
Johannesburg, South Africa – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, has strongly advocated for a global framework that ensures equity in the trade of critical minerals, particularly benefiting communities in Nigeria and across Africa.
Speaking at the Third Session of the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit, held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, President Tinubu emphasized that these minerals hold the key to industrial transformation for the continent. The summit’s theme, “A Fair and Just Future for All: Critical Minerals, Decent Work, Artificial Intelligence,” provided a platform for Tinubu to articulate Nigeria’s vision for a more equitable global economic order.
President Tinubu stressed that critical minerals are more than just natural deposits for Nigeria and Africa; they represent a significant opportunity for industrial transformation. He cautioned, however, that the mere possession of these resources does not guarantee prosperity. “Relevant authorities and stakeholders must ensure that the extraction and trade of critical minerals are governed by fairness, transparency, and accountability,” he stated. He added that responsible extraction and trade are necessary to ensure that the wealth generated from hosting communities translates into shared progress.
Tinubu’s call for a global framework aims to promote value addition at the source, support local beneficiation, and ensure that communities hosting these resources are not left behind. “Nigeria calls for a global framework that promotes value addition at the source, supports local beneficiation, and ensures that communities hosting these resources are not left behind,” the President stated. He further emphasized the moral dimension of this issue, saying, “The issue before us reaches far beyond the narrow arithmetic of economics and speaks to the moral character of the world we aspire to build.”
President Tinubu urged G20 leaders to support a future where Africa is not merely a supplier of raw materials but a continent of value creation, innovation, and dignity in work. This vision aligns with a broader effort to ensure that Africa benefits from its resources by developing local industries and moving up the value chain. Nigeria has already taken steps to end the export of unprocessed mineral ores, prioritizing local value addition and industrial growth.
President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to preparing its youth for the future through the “Renewed Hope Agenda.” This initiative focuses on empowering Nigerian youths through digital literacy, vocational training, and entrepreneurship. By investing in these skills, Nigeria aims to ensure that its citizens can actively participate in and benefit from the evolving global economy.
The Renewed Hope Agenda includes various programs aimed at empowering Nigerians, such as the 3MTT (3 Million Technical Talent Programme), which aims to train 3 million Nigerians in high-demand technical skills. Other initiatives focus on providing financial and technical support to households and promoting commercial agriculture.
In addition to advocating for equity in mineral trade, President Tinubu addressed the importance of ethical AI governance and the need for global financial reforms. He stressed that AI should be a tool for empowerment and job creation, not exclusion or displacement. Nigeria supports the creation of global ethical standards for AI that uphold safety, transparency, and equity.
Tinubu also called for a more equitable and responsive system to manage global financial flows and address recurring debt crises, particularly for developing nations. He emphasized the need to reform international financial architecture and global institutions to meet the needs of all nations, especially those in the Global South.
Nigeria is actively working to strengthen its position in the global minerals value chain. The recent groundbreaking of a $400 million rare earth processing plant in Nasarawa State demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to mineral refinement, industrialization, and economic self-reliance. This project is expected to significantly boost Nigeria’s capacity to refine minerals locally and reduce its dependence on foreign processors.
President Tinubu’s call for a global framework aligns with existing international efforts to promote responsible and equitable mineral trade. The UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, launched in April 2024, aims to build trust between governments, local communities, and industry and address issues relating to equity, transparency, investment, sustainability, and human rights.
Other initiatives, such as the Critical Minerals Alliance and the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), also seek to promote cooperation and secure supply chains for critical minerals. These partnerships aim to reduce dependence on concentrated mineral production networks and foster innovation in the sector.