New York, United States - September 23, 2025 President Bola Tinubu has called for a complete overhaul of the global financial architecture governing Africa's mineral resources. Tinubu, represented by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, made the call at the Second Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) High-Level Roundtable on Critical Minerals Development in Africa. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report that the event held on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York City. The President said it was time for African nations to not only finance their own mineral sectors but also assert their influence and control over African products' global supply chains. Tinubu said that it had become imperative for African nations' sovereignty to be protected, just as he recommended collective action by development allies and partners, to bring Africa's mineral economy to reality for the benefit of the continent. "We must take the bull by the horns in financing our future. Never again shall we wait for capital to trickle in. With sovereign funds, blended vehicles, and innovation tools like the Africa Mineral Token, Africa shall finance Africa. "To safeguard this sovereignty, we must guard our cobalt, lithium, graphite, gold, and rare earths not as fragmented states but as one continental bloc, wielding collective power in global supply chains," the President submitted." He pledged Nigeria's commitment towards catalysing a mineral-led renaissance under the Renewed Hope Agenda, as exemplified back home. Tinubu also urged African leaders to end the "ignoble cycle" of importing finished goods through accelerated government-led mineral exploration. To unlock Africa's mineral economic future, the President said the objective will materialise based on four imperatives. The Nigerian leader charged African nations to climb the value chain, adding, "We must end the ignoble cycle of exporting rocks and importing finished goods. "From beneficiation to green manufacturing, Africa must build industries on African soil. "I am proud to announce that with the African Minerals and Energy Resource Classification (AMREC) and the Pan-African Resource Reporting Code (PARC). We will no longer beg for geological knowledge of our own land. "Africa’s data will be mapped, standardised, and owned by Africans. Data alone is not enough. We must accelerate government-led mineral exploration and national geological mapping. "Without exploration, there is no sovereignty. Without mapping, there is no value. Every member state must prioritise country-wide surveys, strengthen geological agencies, and pool expertise through AMSG. "For when Africa owns the map, Africa owns the future." The President who demanded for a collective demonstration of leadership, also called on sovereign wealth funds, private partners, and development allies to join Africa in rewriting the story of Africa’s mineral economy. "Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Mali, Botswana, Gabon, and Ghana are already leading this new age of equal exchange, enforcing bans on the export of raw minerals to promote domestic beneficiation. "Zimbabwe’s ban on raw lithium in 2022, Gabon’s decision to end manganese exports by 2029, and Kenya’s plan to restrict raw gold exports are historic acts of courage. "Nigeria is accelerating similar reforms, for we know this is the road to jobs, to industries, and to prosperity," the President said. The Nigerian leader commended Nigeria's Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, who chairs the event, and the Secretary-General, Moses Michael Engadu of Uganda, for guiding Africa towards a path of productivity and pride. "I pledge Nigeria’s unflinching commitment to ensuring that AMSG fulfils its promise of catalysing a mineral-led renaissance. "Let us rise from this dialogue with a communiqué of clarity, a framework for action, and a spirit of unity." Earlier, Alake, while welcoming stakeholders and partners to the event called for cohesion amongst African nations. He said that with determined focus and a reinvigorated sense of partnership and transparency in the minerals sector. He stated that Africa would harness in all ramifications the total benefits of a sustained, deepened and well harmonised mineral sector. Alake added that, "these resources are indispensable for global sustainable development and remained catalyst for Africa's rapid industrialisation". Ahunna Eziakonwa, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Regional Director for Africa at UNDP, urged African leaders to strategically position themselves to harness African resources for the benefit of their people, emphasising caution in their approach. "Rather than to be subjected to extreme exploitation, which is already happening, and being extracted without appropriate value," she said. She also emphasised the need for leaders in the continent to ensure partnership that delivers technology transfer, beneficiation, and creates jobs. "There is a scramble and a lot of interest in Africa's minerals, people are coming to partner, Africa can shape the quantum of that partnership and determine what works from the partnership." Also, Mr Jozef Stkela, European Union Commissioner for International Partnership, said in the last few years, the European Union structured its approach, boosted, and secured its supply of critical raw materials. He said that the EU adopted the Critical Raw Materials Act in 2024, to increase domestic production and diversify supply outside the European Union. "Under this Act and our global gateways strategy, we have signed 14 strategic partnerships with the raw materials value chain of which four are in Africa."