‎President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged world leaders to establish a global framework that safeguards the rights and development of communities hosting critical minerals in Nigeria and across Africa, insisting that value addition must begin at the point of extraction.
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‎Tinubu made the call during the Third Session of the 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit, held at the Johannesburg Expo Centre in South Africa.
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‎The session, themed “A Fair and Just Future for All: Critical Minerals, Decent Work, Artificial Intelligence,” convened global leaders to deliberate on equitable development in a rapidly evolving technological and environmental landscape.
‎ The President was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
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‎According to a statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Tinubu emphasized that Africa’s critical minerals are more than natural endowments; they are essential drivers of the continent’s industrial transformation.
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‎He cautioned, however, that resource abundance does not automatically translate to prosperity. For mineral-rich communities to thrive, he maintained, extraction and trade must be rooted in fairness, transparency, and accountability.
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‎ “Nigeria calls for a global framework that promotes value addition at the source, supports local beneficiation, and ensures that communities hosting these resources are not left behind,” he said. “The issue before us goes beyond economic calculations; it reflects the moral character of the world we aspire to build.”
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‎Tinubu highlighted that global green and digital transitions must put people at the center. He underscored decent work as the bedrock of inclusive and sustainable development, noting that every citizen should have the opportunity to contribute meaningfully and share in national prosperity.
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‎Referencing initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the President stated that his administration is equipping young Nigerians with future-focused skills through digital literacy programmes, vocational training, and entrepreneurship support.
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‎For a fairer global future, Tinubu urged G20 leaders to strengthen cooperation on technology transfer, capacity building, and investments that prioritize human dignity over profit.
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‎On artificial intelligence, he endorsed the development of global ethical standards, stressing that AI must “remain a servant of humanity.” Without proper oversight, he warned, AI risks deepening inequalities and further marginalising vulnerable populations.
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‎“The G20 must address systemic bias and sustain multilateral dialogue to ensure equitable access to the benefits of AI while responsibly managing its risks,” he added.
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‎Tinubu connected the issues of critical minerals, decent work, and artificial intelligence under a shared vision of global responsibility, saying the ultimate goal should be to build an economy that uplifts rather than excludes one measured not only by growth but also by the dignity it guarantees every individual.
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‎He called on global leaders to support Africa’s transition from being primarily a supplier of raw materials to becoming a hub for value creation, innovation, and dignified labour.
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‎In a related appeal, the President urged the international community to design a more equitable and responsive system for managing global financial flows, particularly one capable of addressing recurring debt crises in a fair and sustainable manner.