Nigeria to award mining grants based on merit via new EMERGE program

Nigeria is launching the Early-Stage Mineral Exploration and Research Grant Endowment (EMERGE) Programme to spur growth in its mining sector. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, announced that grants will be awarded solely on merit, emphasizing transparency and competitiveness.

“

EMERGE will be transparent and competitive from beginning to end.

The EMERGE program, a joint effort between the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF) and PwC as the administration partner, is designed to support early-stage exploration, enhance research capabilities, and advance mineral processing. This marks a significant step, as it's the first time the Nigerian government is offering dedicated grants for geoscience research, mineral processing, and mining operators.

“

Applications will be assessed strictly on merit, and the process is independently administered by PwC, our Programme Administration Partner, to guarantee transparency, accountability and a level playing field for every applicant.

Alake highlighted that the initiative is a milestone for President Bola Tinubu's administration, aligning with its commitment to economic diversification. He noted that past SMDF projects, such as the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC)-SMDF Project Development Facility and the supply of certified gold to the Central Bank of Nigeria, demonstrate a robust support system for the sector. The administration aims to provide comprehensive support, from initial geological ideas to final processed products, encouraging entrepreneurs to apply for the available funding.

“

The next breakthrough in how we process our lithium, our gold or our rare earths could come from a laboratory in one of our own universities, and EMERGE exists to find it and to fund it.