With the world focusing on discovering and utilizing clean sources of energy in order to cut down carbon emissions to protect the world from further climate change, the first Nigeria Africa natural resources and investment summit was declared open in Abuja by President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by the Hon. Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Architect Olamilekan Adegbite to chart a way forward for the development of natural resources and energy projects in a sustainable and climate friendly manner.
In his good will message, the minister of state, Foreign Affairs, Mr. Zubair Dada said he believed the summit which was tagged: towards a greener Africa, is apt and timing especially considering the climate change and its challenges are issued that Africa can no longer ignore, adding that the challenges requires collective effort and resolve to overcome them and the need to adjust the country policy to become greener if we are have to safeguard our planets and of course safeguard the future.
Dada affirmed that Nigeria has taken very good steps to align with the global energy transition through a combination of technology, investment, business strategy and policy in order to transit to meet current energy systems to whole carbon energy systems because natural gas play a pivotal role over the next generations.
In his keynote address, The Hon. Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Architect Olamilekan Adegbite who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the event noted that Africa requires a huge amount of energy generation to drive its development, even as the world shifts away from fossil fuel to clean and renewable energy sources and In the midst of this energy transition lies many challenges and opportunities for a continent yearning for development.
Adegbite said the summit will provides the opportunity to share views on natural resources and energy market development that will lead to the growth and industrialization of Africa in a more environment friendly manner while encouraging the development and financing of green energy projects.
The Minister however said Participating countries in the Declaration of Cooperation would strengthen their cooperation, through joint assessment and viewpoints, with the aim to financing sustainable African Natural Resources and Energy Projects that are key to the transition, for the benefit of producers and consumers and to regularly review at technical and ministerial levels the status of our cooperation.
In his part, one of the panelist on maximizing mineral potential panel session, the Director General Nigeria Geological Survey Agency, Dr AbdulRazaq Garba said Data generation is the heart of Mining sector and it has been a long one since the establishment of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency since 1919 but adding that the data generated as event unfold suggests that most of this data set are not really tied to the mining sector
Also, one of the panelist on maximizing mineral potential panel session, The Director General mining cadastre office, Engr. Simon Nkom said the essence of the summit is to be able to develop Africa and particularly develop Nigeria.. Adding that in view of that, the President and federal government in its determination to diversify the Nigeria economy actually identified the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development as a strategic industry that will bring about growth and development of the mining sector with the believed that the mineral sector play a very key role in that regard
Recall that the 3 days program of the First Nigeria Africa natural resources and energy will convene the African mining, finance, power, oil and gas sector is chart a way forward for the development of natural resources and energy projects in a sustainable and climate friendly manner.
