Today, I turn 70 with deep gratitude to God for the gift of life and the privilege of serving my country. I am thankful for every lesson, challenge and opportunity to contribute to Nigeria’s progress. My hope for our nation’s future is as strong as ever and my commitment to helping build a better Nigeria with integrity and purpose remains unchanged.

As we celebrate 66 years of independence, it is important to reflect on how far we have come and the work that still lies ahead. For Nigeria to keep registering progress, we all share a responsibility in shaping a stronger future for our country. At the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, our focus is on turning our natural resources into tangible progress for every Nigerian. True independence grows stronger when our wealth works for our people. Building a resilient nation requires consistent effort from all of us. Let us keep pushing forward together. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

On Wednesday at the Nigeria Mission House in New York, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and I signed an agreement to deepen American investment in Nigeria’s mining sector. This is an important step in strengthening Nigeria-US cooperation around our mineral resources, valued at about $700 billion. The framework covers geological data and exploration, mineral development and processing, infrastructure, and technical capacity. Nigeria cannot remain a source of raw materials while others capture most of the value. We want more local processing, quality jobs, stronger skills and greater opportunities for Nigerian businesses. In the coming months, we will turn this framework into projects, investments and real results for our people. We will identify viable projects and build partnerships that create value for Nigerians and our US partners. This is how we turn our mineral wealth into lasting economic growth and advance the diversification goals of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

On the sidelines of UNGA 81 in New York, I hosted a meeting of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group with mining investors, development partners and Ministers responsible for Solid Minerals across Africa. Representing HE President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima joined us as we considered how Africa can make greater use of its mineral wealth. Nigeria is committed to providing leadership in building stronger partnerships and ensuring our mineral resources contribute meaningfully to Africa’s growth and development.

Today, I celebrate Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on her 66th birthday. Over the years, I have witnessed your warmth and genuine concern for the well-being of others. You have brought these qualities to every responsibility you have undertaken, with a sense of duty and commitment to serving our people. Your dedication to women, children, families and communities is reflected in the work of the Renewed Hope Initiative, which continues to reach people across the country and create opportunities that improve lives. As you celebrate today, I pray that Almighty God continues to bless you with good health, wisdom and fulfilment. May the years ahead bring you greater joy and many more opportunities to touch lives and contribute to the progress of our nation.

Our engagement with Murdoch University at Africa Down Under 2026 strengthened our commitment to building the knowledge and skills needed to strengthen Nigeria’s mining sector. The Nigeria-Australia Resource Industry Collaboration and Capacity Building Programme has already trained two cohorts of Nigerian officials and we are now working towards a stronger third phase with more practical industry exposure and hands-on learning. Attracting investment and technology must go hand in hand with building Nigerian capacity to manage and grow these opportunities. A stronger mining sector ultimately depends on the people who will drive it and investing in them remains central to our reform agenda.

I met with the Governing Council of Obafemi Awolowo University, led by Professor Ralph Akinfeleye, on how the institution can make better use of its mineral and intellectual resources. OAU has both the resources beneath its land and the expertise within its walls. With the right private-sector partnerships, these assets can generate revenue and create opportunities for students and researchers. I encouraged the University to deepen its work in research, innovation and practical solutions that create real economic value. We remain committed to supporting responsible mining and greater value addition across the sector.

Today, I received the Director-General of the South-South Development Commission, Ms. Usoro Offiong Akpabio, and her delegation to the Ministry in Abuja for a discussion on how we can unlock the region’s solid mineral potential. The South-South is known for its oil and gas wealth but its mineral resources also offer significant opportunities for investment, job creation and economic growth. I assured the Commission of our full support as we work together to develop these resources responsibly, promote local processing and create greater value for our people. We also discussed the opportunities available to states to participate directly in mining through properly structured state-owned entities and valid mining titles. There is a shared objective here. Our task is to align our strategies and work together to unlock the South-South’s full mineral potential.

Today, I welcomed the Governor of Taraba State, H.E. Dr. Agbu Kefas, to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in Abuja. We talked about how we can work together to create a safe and supportive environment for investors looking to explore Taraba’s rich mineral resources. There is real potential in Taraba and our focus remains on ensuring that these opportunities translate into sustainable investment and value for the people.

At the Africa Minerals Strategy Group’s 3rd High-Level Roundtable in New York, we continued the conversation on moving beyond the export of raw minerals to building value chains that create jobs and retain more value within Africa. Our critical minerals are central to the technologies and industries shaping the global economy so we must work together to ensure Africa is not only a supplier of raw materials but a major player in processing, manufacturing and innovation. Through the newly unveiled Continental Integration and Economic Assurance Declaration, we are moving past policy talk into real execution. We are aligning our policies and setting up dedicated financing to back bankable projects across the continent. Africa is no longer a passive bystander in the global economy. We are building the industries and taking control of our own wealth.

I led our delegation from the Nigeria Solid Minerals Company to the White House for a series of focused discussions with David Copley at the U.S. National Security Council and Diana London from the DCI Group. Our focus is building a real, investment-driven partnership between Nigeria and the United States. We talked about moving beyond simple extraction and working together across the entire supply chain, from exploration and mining to local processing and refining. This aligns directly with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's vision to diversify our economy, create jobs, and ensure Nigeria gets full value from its natural resources while supporting the global shift toward clean energy.