Nigeria Launches EMERGE Grants to Boost Mining Sector

The Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Alak, issued a warning against lobbying for EMERGE grants during the program's launch in Abuja. The EMERGE initiative, organized by the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), aims to accelerate mineral exploration and geoscience research in Nigeria's solid minerals sector.

Alak described the program as a landmark intervention, the first dedicated grant initiative for geoscience and mineral processing research in the country's history. The funding will support grassroots exploration activities and identify new mineral deposits.

The program aligns with the federal government's broader strategy to transform the mining sector, increase local value addition, and attract investments. Alak noted that reforms in the sector could significantly boost government revenue, projecting an increase from N16 billion in 2023 to N38 billion in 2024 and surpassing N70 billion by the end of 2025.

The initiative is expected to position Nigeria as a major player in the global mining value chain.