Africa ought to strengthen capability, affect in world minerals market – WiM-Africa boss

The Executive Director of Women in Mining Africa (WiM-Africa), Dr. Comfort Asokoro-Ogaji, has known as on Africa to strengthen it’s institutional capability and affect as a important stakeholder the place choices on world strong minerals market manufacturing and advertising are determined.

“Africa must not remain a passive supplier in an increasingly sophisticated global minerals economy,” she stated.

She stated this not too long ago in her tackle on the Shanghai Metals Expo 2026 Roundtable titled, “Eastern Pricing 2.0 — Integrating Futures, Physical Markets, Industry and Finance for the Next Stage of Global Metals Pricing.”

The occasion introduced collectively business leaders, representatives of Shanghai Metals Market, buyers, policymakers, colleagues and buddies, to deliberate on the event of the business.

In her presentation which centred on the African perspective on the way forward for world metals pricing, she requested a basic query: ” Who
determines the worth of Africa’s minerals, and the way a lot affect does Africa have over the methods by which that worth is set?”

According to Dr. Asokoro-Ogaji, “Africa possesses a number of the world’s most strategically vital mineral assets.

“From copper and cobalt to lithium, manganese, platinum-group metals, gold and other critical minerals, our continent occupies an important position in global industrial supply chains.”

She famous that, “These minerals support manufacturing, infrastructure development, electrification, new technologies and the global energy transition. Yet the possession of resources does not automatically translate into market influence.”

A rustic, she stated, would possibly “produce significant quantities of a mineral and still have limited access to the information, processing capacity, financial instruments and commercial networks that influence its market value.”

She, nevertheless, suggested that for Africa to claim or earm her place as a stakeholder with equal say, she should strengthen its mineral market intelligence; spend money on mineral testing, standardisation and traceability and, increase beneficiation, processing and regional worth chains.

Others are: “We need stronger connections between African producers, commodity markets and finance” and “ensure that market development is inclusive.”

She burdened that, “This is where Women in Mining Africa’s mandate becomes particularly relevant. Women must participate in value creation, not only extraction.”