The Ore Reserves Development Forum, ORDF, in partnership with the Solid Minerals Development Fund, SMDF, has finalized preparations for a crucial one-day workshop focused on establishing a sustainable financial system for Nigeria's mining sector.
Addressing Critical Funding Gaps in Mining
Scheduled for December 9, 2025, in Abuja, the workshop titled "Building a Sustainable Mining Finance Framework for Nigeria" aims to tackle one of the sector's most persistent challenges: the difficulty miners face in securing financing due to limited investor confidence in geological and project data.
The event will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders including miners, financial institutions, government agencies, regulators, and industry experts to strengthen the connection between geological reporting, project transparency, and access to finance.
Key Workshop Objectives and Participants
According to the official statement, participants will explore critical topics including mineral reporting standards, the financing lifecycle of mining projects, policy and regulatory incentives, and the development of a credible mining finance ecosystem for Nigeria.
Uba Saidu Malami, Chairman of ORDF, emphasized that while the mining sector holds significant potential for Nigeria's economic growth, many promising projects fail to attract funding because investors lack confidence in available data. He reaffirmed that this workshop will enable stakeholders to collaboratively build a transparent and reliable system that supports investment and long-term sector development.
Expected Outcomes and Framework Development
At the conclusion of the workshop, organizers expect to produce a draft Mining Finance Framework that will be reviewed and refined by a technical working group representing key institutions across the mining value chain.
The comprehensive workshop curriculum will cover:
- The role of mining finance in Nigeria's industrial development
- Fundamental standards for reporting mineral resources
- Financing pathways from exploration to production
- Policy, regulatory, and market incentives for mining
- Designing practical and efficient mining finance systems
- Consensus on standard reporting systems and frameworks
Notable participants confirmed for the event include Dr. Emomotimi Agama, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission; Hajiya Fatima Shinkafi, Executive Secretary of SMDF; Temi Popoola, President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange; Dr. Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Mineral Development; and Mr. Wale Edun, Minister of Finance, among other key stakeholders.
The ORDF emerged from the Geological Society of Nigeria's Roundtable 2.0, which brought together technical, regulatory, financial, trade, and policy experts to examine barriers to unlocking Nigeria's solid minerals potential. The initiative recognizes that bridging gaps in ore reserve classification, technical capacity, and structured financing requires a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach anchored on sound industrial policy.
