Segilola Resources urges stronger Nigeria–South Africa mining ties to drive bilateral growth
Segilola Resources Operations Ltd. (SROL), Nigeria’s leading gold mining firm, is pushing for stronger bilateral collaboration between Nigeria and South Africa to unlock Africa’s vast mineral wealth and deepen trade relations between both countries.
Speaking at the Nigerian–South African Chamber of Commerce breakfast forum in Lagos, themed “Unlocking Africa’s Hidden Wealth: Mining as a Catalyst for Bilateral Movement,” Austin Menegbo, SROL’s country manager, said mining can serve as a critical bridge for cross-border investment and sustainable development across the continent.
The event brought together senior executives, policymakers, and industry leaders from both countries to explore opportunities for shared prosperity through mining and related value chains.
Menegbo, who delivered the keynote address and joined a panel discussion, praised the vision and leadership of Segun Lawson, chief executive officer of Thor Explorations Ltd., SROL’s parent company. Lawson, he said, has been instrumental in positioning Segilola as a model for responsible gold mining in Nigeria’s emerging extractive sector.
“When communities thrive, investors are protected. When investors are protected, capital flows,” Menegbo said during the panel session. “That is the essence of bilateral investment. Without structures, institutions, and partnerships that sustain operations, growth becomes impossible.”
He outlined SROL’s four-pillar community agenda — gender inclusion and skills training, infrastructure development, capacity-building for local expertise, and long-term empowerment programs — as evidence of the company’s approach to sustainable mining.
The firm’s initiatives, he added, are designed to ensure host communities benefit from mining activities beyond resource extraction, creating an environment that supports both social progress and investor confidence.
SROL’s model, observers at the forum noted, offers a template for how responsible mining can catalyse broader economic cooperation between Nigeria and South Africa, Africa’s two largest economies.
By aligning investment with community wellbeing, SROL aims to demonstrate that mining can be a driver of inclusive growth and a foundation for deeper regional partnerships.
