By Fatou Dahaba
The Gambia on Monday officially opened the 18th General Assembly of the Organization of African Geological Surveys (OAGS), urging African nations to move beyond exporting raw minerals and invest in local processing, scientific capacity, and regional cooperation.
The high-level gathering, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center, brought together ministers, heads of geological surveys, technical experts, private-sector representatives and development partners from across the continent. Discussions focused on how geoscience can better support Africa’s broader development agenda.
Declaring the assembly open, Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines Nani Juwara challenged delegates to reconsider how the continent manages and benefits from its mineral wealth. “Are we capturing enough value from the resources beneath our soil?” he asked. “For too long Africa has exported raw materials while importing high-value products manufactured from those same resources. That model must stop.”
Juwara said the continent’s ambition “must go beyond extraction,” calling for greater emphasis on beneficiation, mineral processing, manufacturing, technology transfer, skills development and the creation of regional value chains. He linked the message directly to the global energy transition, stating: “The energy transition must not simply change what Africa exports, but it must change the value that we create.”
The minister also stressed the strategic role of geological surveys, describing them not merely as technical agencies but as institutions that inform national decisions on minerals, groundwater, infrastructure, land use and environmental protection. “Simply put, we cannot manage what we do not understand, and we cannot develop what we have not properly assessed,” he said.
OAGS President Gabriel Data outlined the organization’s new strategic plan for 2025–2030, which aims to give Africa greater control across the entire mineral value chain. He highlighted opportunities linked to critical minerals that are driving the global energy transition, while underscoring the need to safeguard the environment without compromising developmental goals.
Data called on member states and partners to deepen cooperation in responsible resource governance, exploration investment and regional technical collaboration. He noted that, despite progress in geological understanding across the continent, the priority now is to convert that knowledge into tangible outcomes. “We must now translate this knowledge into tangible outcomes that advance the priorities of the Organization of African Geological Surveys,” he said, adding that the assembly’s deliberations should align with Africa’s wider objectives of regional integration, industrialization and economic transformation.
Alieu Jawo, Director of the Geological Department at the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum and Mines, welcomed participants and described the meeting as an important platform for strengthening continental cooperation. “Africa is richly endowed with mineral resources that can drive industrialization, create employment and support sustainable economic transformation,” he said. “However, these resources can only deliver lasting benefits when supported by strong geological institutions, reliable scientific data, responsible governance and effective partnership.”
The assembly is being held under the theme “Advancing Africa’s Geoscience Potential Through Strategic Partnership and Progressive Dialogue.” Officials said the gathering will offer opportunities to improve geological data sharing, build technical capacity and promote practical steps toward responsible and sustainable mineral development across the continent.
