ABUJA, Nigeria, October 14, 2026/APO Group/ –Nigeria Mining Week (https://NigeriaMiningWeek.com) enters its final day today after two days of frank discussion about what it will take to turn Nigeria’s mineral wealth into viable mining projects, stronger local industries and long-term investment.

Taking place from 12 to 14 October at the Abuja Continental Hotel under the theme “Unlocking Investment and Growth through Partnerships,” this year’s event has brought government, mining companies, investors, financiers and industry bodies together around some of the sector’s most pressing issues.

 




 
 

The message coming through strongly is that mineral potential alone is not enough. Investors need reliable geological data, clear and consistent regulation, secure operating environments, access to finance and infrastructure that can support projects from exploration through to production.

At Tuesday’s official opening, Cyril Azobu, Partner and Mining Industry Leader at PwC Nigeria, spoke about the need to develop projects that can attract serious investment and create more value within Nigeria, rather than relying on the export of unprocessed minerals.

That point was reinforced by Austin Menegbo, Country Manager of Segilola Resources Operating Limited, who brought the perspective of an operating mine to the discussion. Segilola reported production of 91,910 ounces of gold in 2025, with Nigerians making up 99% of its workforce.

Menegbo also highlighted some of the practical challenges facing mining companies, including overlapping approvals, infrastructure constraints, security and access to finance.

Oba Ayandele Ayanleke, National President of the Miners Association of Nigeria, called for greater regulatory certainty and closer cooperation between government and industry.

Data was another recurring theme. Professor Olusegun Ige, Director-General of the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency, stressed the importance of strengthening the geological information available to investors and improving the flow of exploration data into Nigeria’s national geological knowledge base.

International cooperation also featured prominently.

Anna Westerholm, Sweden’s Ambassador to Nigeria, highlighted opportunities for cooperation in technology, expertise and business partnerships. She also pointed to the growing importance of traceability and responsible production as international buyers pay closer attention to where minerals come from and how they are produced.

These conversations built on Monday’s pre-conference program, where smaller roundtable discussions tackled four practical areas: geological data and exploration, financing for junior miners, compliance and enforcement, and power and infrastructure.

The Women in Extractive Industries Forum added another important dimension, looking at how more women can move into technical, operational and leadership positions, as well as the role women can play in strengthening ESG, community engagement and responsible mining.

One day left, and some of the biggest conversations are still to come

Today’s program turns attention to the value chains and infrastructure that could shape the next phase of Nigeria’s mining industry.

The morning begins with Nigeria’s gemstone value chain, looking at how the country can build stronger links between miners, cutters, polishers, jewelry manufacturers and international buyers.

That is followed by a discussion on policy, regulation and governance, including the practical steps needed to create a clearer and more competitive environment for mining investment.

Community relationships will also come into focus during From Consent to Social Licence, with the conversation moving beyond compliance to the question of how mining companies build trust and create lasting value in host communities.

In the afternoon, Power to Mines and Logistics for Industrialization will tackle one of the industry’s biggest practical questions: how to provide the power, transport and logistics needed to turn mineral discoveries into commercially viable operations.

Then, from 15:00, attention shifts to two important Nigerian mineral value chains.

GOLD FORUM

The Gold Forum will look at how production can connect more effectively with refining, responsible sourcing, formal trading, finance and international markets.

LUANDA, Angola, October 14, 2026/APO Group/ –African Collaborations Group (ACG) (www.ACGafrica.com), the leading strategic project origination and collaboration platform focused on the industrialisation of sport in Africa through the origination of bankable sport and entertainment district ecosystems, today announced that its CEO, Paulo J. Cruz, will speak at the Angola Access & Investment Conference 2026 (AAIC) (www.aaic.ao) in Luanda, Angola, from 14 to 17 October 2026.

 




 
 

The AAIC is organised by Expo Connect Angola in partnership with Skyliam Properties, the Cópia Group, and Angolan Business Beyond Borders, with the support of the Angola-Mozambique Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIAM) and the Angolan Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Telecommunications, Information Technologies, and Social Communication. The conference brings together heads of state, ministers, ambassadors, CEOs, investors, development banks, and business leaders from over 60 international markets.

Mr Cruz will address how ACG’s origination of integrated sport and entertainment districts contributes directly to inclusive economic growth. His intervention will focus on how sport infrastructure, when designed as a financially self-sustaining urban ecosystem, becomes a catalyst for large-scale job creation, skills development, accessible infrastructure, and long-term economic diversification.

The AAIC’s focus on accessibility and inclusion aligns directly with ACG’s approach to sport and entertainment district development. A Victory District™ is designed from inception to serve the widest possible community: creating permanent employment across dozens of professions, providing professional sport training facilities for young athletes, and generating economic activity that benefits surrounding neighbourhoods year-round.

“Sport infrastructure has the power to be one of the most inclusive economic assets a country can build,” said Paulo J. Cruz, CEO of ACG. “A Victory District™ does not just create stadiums. It creates thousands of permanent jobs, from hospitality to broadcast production, from sport coaching to facility management. It creates training pathways for young athletes. And it creates an urban ecosystem that generates economic activity 365 days a year. That is inclusive growth in practice, not in theory. I am honoured to share that vision at the AAIC alongside some of Africa’s most influential investors and decision-makers.”

The AAIC programme includes official MoU signing ceremonies, B2B investment rounds, VIP executive networking with senior government and business leaders across 10 dedicated Business Lounges, and the inauguration of Angola’s first assistive technology factory. The conference covers priority sectors including energy, mining, accessible tourism, agriculture, logistics, health, and infrastructure.

ACG’s Victory District™ framework is designed to originate integrated, mixed-use sport and entertainment districts that move beyond single-venue development models. Each district combines stadiums, indoor arenas, training academies, hotels, conference centres, retail, entertainment, residential, and commercial space within a single masterplanned development, financed by private and institutional capital without reliance on public subsidy.

Mr Cruz brings more than 28 years of experience across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe in originating, structuring, and delivering large-scale infrastructure, urbanisation, and real estate development initiatives. Prior to ACG, he served as Senior Vice President at DAMAC Group, the largest private real estate developer in the Middle East, and as Group CEO of LandAfrique, a pan-African development platform focused on industrial parks, infrastructure, housing, and power projects across Sub-Saharan Africa.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 13, 2026/APO Group/ –African national oil companies (NOCs) have signed a declaration committing to stronger commercial cooperation, expanded refining capacity and coordinated energy development across the continent. The non-binding Cape Town Declaration establishes a framework for advancing energy security, regional integration, infrastructure investment and the sustainable development of Africa’s petroleum resources.

 




  

The declaration was signed on October 12 during the 8^th Meeting of the APPO NOCs CEOs Forum at African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 in Cape Town. The signing was overseen by Godfrey Moagi, CEO of the South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC) and newly appointed Chairman of the APPO NOCs CEOs Forum.

“This non-binding agreement is very encouraging, showcasing the expedience of the pace of our resolve to improve socioeconomic development in all our respective countries,” Moagi said during the forum.

Signatories to the agreement committed to strengthening continental energy security within their respective legal mandates, including through direct commercial agreements between African NOCs for crude oil and refined products, subject to domestic legislation and competition rules.

The declaration also aligns participating companies with the APPO’s Long-Term Strategy 2050, which supports the sustainable development of Africa’s energy resources and greater energy independence. It advocates a just and pragmatic energy transition that reflects national economic and social circumstances, with responsible hydrocarbon development continuing alongside complementary emerging green energy solutions.

Signatories pledged to deepen domestic refining capacity to reduce dependence on imported petroleum products, while supporting the African Refining Industry Upgrading Strategy Program and developments surrounding the African Refining Model. The declaration also welcomed operational steps towards implementing the Africa Energy Bank as a funding instrument for major energy projects.

Digitalization, skills development and local content form another pillar of the declaration. Participating NOCs supported secure digital platforms to improve data visibility, monitor local content and facilitate joint research, alongside greater cross-border mobility for professionals between national oil companies and training institutions. They also endorsed an interactive African energy map and encouraged locally developed research and emissions-reduction approaches.

The agreement provides for further international cooperation across upstream exploration and production, downstream refining and marketing, commercial trade and workforce training. It also acknowledges an executive presentation delivered by a visiting delegation from Venezuela, opening the door to exploring potential partnerships with international counterparts across the petroleum value chain.

The declaration also confirmed that the 9^th meeting of the APPO NOCs CEOs Forum will take place in 2027, with the venue and other arrangements to be finalized by member companies. The agreement establishes a shared framework for advancing African energy cooperation through commercial partnerships, infrastructure investment, technical collaboration and the development of domestic capabilities.

The declaration was signed by Bienvenido Nguema Envó, Director General of GEPetrol; Lorenzo Nicolás Mba Obama Nsang, Deputy General Manager of SONAGAS GE; Kwame Ntow Amoah, CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation; Godfrey Moagi, CEO of SANPC; Fayçal-Réda Laraba, Vice President for Planning and Economics at Sonatrach; Ricardo Van-Deste, CEO Exploration and Production at Sonangol E&P; Issifou Moussa Yari, Managing Director of SNH-BENIN; Nathalie Moudiki, Senior Advisor No. 2 to Executive Management at SNH; Augustin Nkuba Kasanza, Director General of SONAHYDROC SA; and Karim Coulibaly, Deputy General Manager of PETROCI Holding.