At the 2nd Conference on African Mineral Resources Development (CAMRED), held under the theme of advancing Africa’s resource-based industrialization, Dr. Frank Mugyenyi, Executive Director of the Minerals Africa Development Institution (MADI), delivered a powerful keynote address calling for a renewed commitment to Africa’s industrial transformation.
Addressing delegates from across the continent, Dr. Mugyenyi reflected on Africa’s long history of development blueprints — from the 1979 Monrovia Strategy and the 1980 Lagos Plan of Action, to the African Productive Capacity Initiative (2004) and the African Mining Vision (2009). Despite these efforts, he noted, Africa continues to face the “paradox of plenty” — vast natural wealth alongside widespread poverty.
“We have resources, and we have that paradox — our people live in abject poverty,” he remarked. “The landscape for Africa to industrialize is not new. Our forefathers laid the groundwork; it’s now upon us to move from policy to practice.”
Dr. Mugyenyi emphasized that minerals must serve as engines of industrialization, not just sources of export revenue. He highlighted the need for value addition, intra-African trade, and support for women and small-scale actors in cross-border commerce, stressing that these are essential to unlocking sustainable growth.
“The African Mining Vision was never about extraction alone,” he said. “It was about transformation — using our resources to drive inclusive and sustainable development.”
Through his keynote, Dr. Mugyenyi reaffirmed MADI’s commitment to guiding Africa toward a future where mineral wealth translates into prosperity, innovation, and true economic independence.
