WiM-Africa's Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji Advocates for Africa's Mining Influence

Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, the Executive Director of Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa), called for Africa to strengthen its institutional capacity and influence in the global minerals market during her address at the Shanghai Metals Expo 2026 Roundtable. She emphasized that Africa should not remain a passive supplier in the global minerals economy.

In her presentation titled, “Eastern Pricing 2.0: Integrating Futures, Physical Markets, Industry and Finance for the Next Stage of Global Metals Pricing,” she raised critical questions about who determines the price of Africa’s minerals and the continent's influence over these systems. Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji highlighted Africa's possession of strategically important mineral resources, including copper, cobalt, lithium, and gold, which are vital for manufacturing and the global energy transition.

She advised that Africa must enhance its mineral market intelligence, invest in processing capacity, and ensure inclusive market development. She stressed the importance of women's participation in value creation beyond extraction.